On the RAVeL of Line 87 and the Dendre

Starting from Renaix/Ronse, a town set within one of the hilliest regions of Flanders, known for that matter as the Flemish Ardennes, you follow the RAVeL virtually from one end to the other along this stage.

You enter Wallonia on the old No 87 railway line, converted into a greenway, and penetrate deep into the Pays des Collines region.

If you are lucky, you may meet an owl known as the ‘white lady’ as you cross Ellezelles. You can imagine this, too, as you savour a Quintine beer in the Légendes brewery just a stone’s throw from your route.

Keep your eyes wide open. because you are riding through a nature reserve here. Buzzards, hawks, falcons and kestrels fly overhead in search of small rodents for their daily meal. You cross Flobecq, where you may be tempted to stop at the medicinal plants centre before continuing on your way towards Lessines.

Note that the Line 87 RAVeL between Flobecq and Lessines is currently being laid out and you have two options to reach Lessines:

• either you can take the N57 regional road, chaussée de Renaix (it has a cycle path, but the traffic is fast);
• or you can follow the local roads and paths of the Wallonie picarde (Western Hainaut) by bike nodal-points network.
• Lessines was founded by the Saxons in around the 5th century and the town is proud of its Flemish Renaissance style heritage. Be sure to visit the Notre-Dame à la Rose hospital, recognised as part of the exceptional heritage of Wallonia since 1940.

Rest assured, you will not have to climb the famous Wall in Gerrardsbergen/Grammont (a steep, cobblestone street) to reach this end of this stage. The Dendre RAVeL takes you safely and effortlessly to the historic centre of Grammont/Geraardsbergen, a major point along the route of the Tour of Flanders cycle race.