Section 2

Ronse to Geraardsbergen

32,5km
302m
333m
-31m
expert

From Ronse, a city confined within one of the most hilly regions of Flanders called the Flemish Ardennes, take the RAVeL almost from beginning to end.

Enter Wallonia by taking the old railway line 87, which has been converted into a greenway, and let yourself sink into the «Country of the Hills».

If you are lucky on your journey through Ellezelles, you may spot the owl nicknamed «the white lady». You can treat yourself to a bottle of Quintine beer in the Brewery of the Legends, located just a few steps away from your route.

As you pedal through the natural park, take in the beautiful scenery. Keep your eyes peeled, as hawks and kestrels will fly above you searching for small rodents in the fields. You will then cross through Flobecq, where you are encouraged to make a stop at the house of medicinal plants, before continuing on your route towards Lessines.

Warning: the RAVeL on line 87 between Flobecq and Lessines is under development. To reach Lessines, you have two options:

Either take the regional road N57, Chaussée de Renaix (which has a cycle track, but fast traffic);

Or follow the local roads and paths of the Wallonia Picardy waymarked cycle network by bicycle.

Lessines was founded by the Saxons around the 5th century and is a city proud of its Flemish Renaissance heritage. You will be able to spot the Hospital Notre-Dame à la Rose, classified as exceptional patrimony since 1940.

Rest assured, you won’t have to climb the famous Grammont Wall to reach the end of this stage! The RAVeL de Dendre safely and effortlessly brings you to the historical centre of Grammont/Geraardsbergen, famous for the Tour of Flandres cycling race.

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The route takes place mostly on the RAVeL of the line 87 and the Dendre which are part of the Wallonia Picardy waymarked cycle network and the cycle network of the Province of East Flanders, so all you need to do is follow the markings throughout this stage.

From Renaix/Ronse, on line 87, follow numbers 91 and 90 of the Province of East Flanders network, then the signs of the EV5 Ellezelles to Flobecq, or numbers 79, 82, 87, 8, 11 and 14 of the Wallonia Picardy bicycle network.

Warning: the RAVeL on line 87 between Flobecq and Lessines is under development and to reach Lessines, you have two options:

Either take the regional road N57, Chaussée de Renaix (which has a cycle track, but fast traffic);
Or follow the local roads and paths of the Wallonia Picardy waymarked cycle network for about 13.5 km. The numbers of the waymarks to follow from waymark 14 onward are 23, 13, 22, 3, 7, 6, 5, 21, 18, 28, 37, 44 and 45, at which point you will reach the RAVeL of Dendre in the centre of Lessines. Between waymarks 28 and 37, the road is unpaved for about 700 m. From Lessines, at waymark 45, all you need to do is follow the RAVeL of the Dendre. The course of the river and waymarks 30, 32 and 28 of the Wallonia Picardy network by bicycle route, then 83 and 81 of the Province of East Flanders bike network, guide you to the centre of Grammont/Geraardsbergen.