Wallonia

Part of Belgium

If someone wants to ride some climbs for the first time, but has already seen a bit of Limburg, then Wallonia is almost naturally the next destination. This is the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium, which begins just across the border in Zuid-Limburg. Here you will find beautiful climbs and a large part of it consists of the Ardennes: wooded hills, deep river valleys and the slopes of the Walloon spring classics, such as La Redoute, Sprimont, Stockeu, Muur van Hoei and le Rosier, with a hairpin bend just a stone’s throw from the Netherlands. In addition, you will find the Maas Valley around Namen and Dinant.

Wallonia captivates with its cycling history and is also a wonderful destination for gravel, mountain biking and touring. It is the more rugged part of Belgium, but it is particularly beautiful. In winter it can be very cold, but in general the temperatures are similar to those in the Netherlands. But it can be scary!

Why cycle in Wallonia?

• As we already wrote in the introduction: you want to ride the slopes of Luik-Bastenaken-Luik and the Walloon Arrow. Then you ride La Redoute, Stockeu, Col du Rosier and the Muur van Hoei. But there are also beautiful climbs further on in Wallonia.
• Long, quiet roads through the forests of the Ardennes, with many kilometers of elevation gain per kilometer.
• River valleys such as the Ourthe, Amblève, Lesse and Semois, and the Maas with its rocky walls.
• Many forest trails and old railway lines (RAVeL) for gravel bikes.
• Chouffe, Chimay and other beers
• Pays des Collines in the Lessines region. A little piece just south of the Flemish Ardennes, which is often overlooked.

The areas

We divide Wallonia into the Belgian Ardennes, Belgian Luxembourg and Namur with the Meuse Valley. The German-speaking East Cantons are separate under Eastern Belgium.

Your Cycling base

Wallonia is large. These are the best starting points for cyclists:

• Spa or Stavelot: for the climbs from Liège-Bastogne-Liège, such as La Redoute and the Stockeu, and the High Fens.
• La Roche-en-Ardenne: in the valley of the Ourthe, with the Côte de Samrée and a lot of gravel.
• Bouillon: on the Semois, with trails through the forests and along the river.
• Namen: on the Maas, in front of the Condroz and the Maas Valley.

When are you leaving?

Wallonia is somewhat more unpredictable in terms of the climate. Winters are usually a bit harsher, especially in the Ardennes. The best time to visit is from April to October. In the higher regions, such as Baraque Fraiture and Baraque Michel, it can be cooler and wetter than in the Netherlands; so always bring a jacket and be prepared for unexpected cold weather, even in April!

How do you get there?

By car, you can reach the Luik Ardennes in two to three hours from Utrecht. By train, you can travel to Liège, Namur or Spa. If you want to explore the Ardennes in more depth, such as La Roche-en-Ardennes or to Houffalize, you will have to add another hour to your travel time.

Events in Wallonia