Take some time to admire Lake Virelles before or after your walk: you can reach it via the Aquascope Nature Experience Center. But don't worry: the circular path around the lake also promises a lot of beauty.

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Text and photo François De Troeyer
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Lake Virelles is a semi-natural pond near Chimay in the "boot of Hainaut". In the originally swampy area, a dam was built in 1580 to provide water for the waterwheel of the forge, thus laying the foundation for the creation of a large pond. Today, this pond, covering an area of 125 hectares, is a nature reserve with the associated Aquascope Nature Experience Center. Access is subject to fees. For more information: www.aquascope.be. The path around the lake leads, among other things, through a beautiful mixed forest, past a nature reserve of wet meadows with broad-leaved orchids in spring and along the exceptionally beautiful Eau Blanche river. Meet at the Sint-Martinus Church of Virelles, a district of Chimay. For GPS: Place de Virelles.

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The Route
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Start with your back to the church, turn left, and go up the Rue des Marcheurs, passing a war memorial on your right. At the intersection with the chapel, turn right towards Rue Lapeau. Ignore the turn-offs after 150 m, cross at the next intersection 200 m further on, and then go right, slightly downhill. Ignore the turn-off to the right after 200 m and continue to the right on the paved gravel path. In the left bush, you will find many blackthorn bushes and on the right, a nature reserve. At the T-junction, turn right and after 50 m cross the main road, then turn right through a gate into the woods. Walk 100 m behind the gate, then left on a narrower forest path (sign with a burgundy rhombus). After just over 600 m, turn right onto the asphalt road, ignore a turn-off to the right after 220 m, but continue another 220 m further right on a gravel path. There you will find 2 benches and a nameplate Ferrières.

The gravel path finally bends to the right after almost 2 km. Continue straight ahead at the T-junction, turning left and then right onto the main road. Now walk 350 m along the main road (carefully!) until you reach N939. Cross the road and 25 m uphill to the right. Now ignore all side roads for just over 1 km, initially uphill and then steeply downhill to a T-junction. Before the T-junction, turn sharply right onto a gravel path along the Eau Blanche river. After nearly 1.5 km, pass under an impressive viaduct. After 50 m behind the viaduct, turn right onto a forest path leading uphill, away from the water, and after 150 m again turn right, continuing uphill.

Soon you will be on the old railway embankment. Go right and over the viaduct. Step down a few meters to the right behind the viaduct and then continue left on a narrow forest path parallel to the old railway embankment. Soon you will have a wastewater treatment plant on your right and the path will turn into an asphalt road. Go right until you reach N939. Cross the road and continue right on a narrow asphalt path. After 100 m, cross the bridge over the Eau Blanche and after another 50 m, turn left to Place de Virelles. You won't see Lake Virelles itself unless you visit Aquascope Virelles. The entrance is located along N939.