The best MTB trails around Olne

An old lime tree already mentioned on the Ferraris maps of 1776. It was apparently a landmark at a crossroads. It's completely hollow but still in full bloom. A lovely resting spot with views of Olne and the Vesdre Valley.

Soiron boasts many well-preserved houses from the 17th and 18th centuries. Built from the local grayish-yellowish limestone, they contribute to the character of this charming village.

Built in 1738 in a striking, slender, vertical style, adapted to the narrow streets. Here too, a large cellar opening onto the street. Many houses of that period had one. This indicated an additional activity, such as a small forge in the cellars where nails were made, for which the village was also known. The cloth industry also took place in the large natural stone building with a courtyard across the street.

The castle, already mentioned in the 14th century, was severely damaged by the 1692 earthquake and was rebuilt between 1723 and 1749 in the Louis XV style. The L-shaped outbuildings with their two square towers, built around 1746 on the site of the old castle, are closer to the Louis XIII style. Around 1857, Henri de Woelmont filled in the moat and removed the drawbridge. The castle is still owned by the same family today.

Beautiful climb (or descent depending on the direction) with roots and stones from Trooz to the Château de Forêt

Double Single track in the middle of a wild garlic forest (in season) followed by a beautiful stony descent

From the 11th century onwards, there is said to have been a maison forte at Soiron, which was initially a wooden construction. In the 14th century, a stone castle (chastael) was mentioned on this site. This castle was neglected and in 1587, the then owner, Christian de Woestenraedt, had a new and more comfortable castle built: Het Kasteel van Sclassin. Part of the original castle remained habitable, even though it was damaged during the earthquake of 1692. From 1723 to 1749, a little to the north of the original castle, a new castle was built by Nicolas-Ignace de Woelmont and his wife Angélique d'Argenteau. Their coats of arms adorn the triangular pediment above the main facade, which was executed in Louis XV style. In 1857, the then owner, Henri de Woelmont, had the moats filled in and the drawbridge removed. The family still owns this castle. The castle is surrounded by a symmetrically laid out garden.

The castle farm, formerly called “cense et labour”, dates from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. It had a mixed purpose: growing crops and breeding animals. In 1836, the barn was extended with a brick construction with numerous ventilation slits and served as a drying room for thistles. Thistles were used in the textile industry to card the cloth after pressing. Carding or roughing gave the cloth a felt-like appearance. Thistles were rubbed over it to bring out the down, which was then cut off. The large or wild teasel (the dipsacus fullonum) was used for this. This biennial plant was sown in July, replanted in March and harvested in August and laid out to dry. Handfuls of 15 ears were harvested and 100 handfuls formed a sheaf. One hectare could yield 60 to 70 sheaves (90,000 to 105,000 ears). For one piece of cloth, between 1,500 and 2,000 ears could be needed.