In the shadow of Louvain-la-Neuve lies the charming, authentically rural village of Mont Saint-Guibert. We set out there, up and down the hill.

Text and photo Guido Elias

This walk starts at the church of Saint-Guibert located on a small hill in the heart of Mont Saint-Guibert, dedicated to St. Guibertus of Gembloers (882-962), who founded the Benedictine monastery of Gembloers around 935. The walk goes over usually quiet rural (field) roads and slow roads. The little river Orne often accompanies you along the way, and during this journey, you frequently enjoy stunning views from various plateaus. Farms, sleepy villages, and chapels are the highlights along this rural route, where you must be cautious along some busier roads. Ensure you bring your own supplies beforehand, as there are hardly any rest points during this journey except for a few cafes. Here, time has indeed stood still.

The route

Starting point at the church of Saint-Guibert (Grand Place) (V). Descend and take a left onto Rue de la Fosse. After 150 m, you arrive at Place des Martyrs (parking!), turn right and follow the curve, then right along the slow road. This leads into Rue des Tilleuls, turn right and walk over the babbling Orne. On the other side of the road is Café des Pêcheurs (free parking along the long wall). Then take the first left onto Rue de Bayau. After a few hundred meters, turn right into Chemin Tollet. A little further on, there's a barrier (the road is traffic-free), keep going straight. After approximately 850 m, another barrier follows; now turn immediately left into Chemin du Moulin Al Poudre. After about 800 m, pass under a railway viaduct, then follow the right turns (Rue du Gros Chêne), over cobblestones (Domaine al Poudre), at the end of the pond, at X turn right onto the unpaved route des Carrières. After 700 m, you reach the station of Chastre, turn left (DO NOT cross the tracks!) and follow Rue de la Gare, you can go left into Rue de l’Église back and forth to the church of Blanmont (1), Rue de la Gare becomes Rue du Château and further on Rue des Combattants. At X turn right towards ‘Chastre 2’, after about 100 m turn right onto Rue de la Fontaine. Under the railway viaduct and at the Y junction (whitewashed chapel) turn left to follow Rue de la Chapelle. After about 1 km at the Y junction, at the farm turn right (still Rue de la Chapelle) and then after 200 m at X, all the way to the right (at farm Van Bellingen), follow a field path (which becomes a concrete road) for over 1.2 km. Then turn left onto Rue du Colombier, past the cemetery, and after 300 m turn right (chapel on the opposite side) onto Rue de la Houssière. A bit further, you see the little church of Hévillers (2), here turn left and again take a left onto Rue du Chenoy and follow for about 1.6 km. Beyond the orange gas sign, follow the busier Rue de Bierbais (which becomes Rue Vital Casse). Along a piece of forest and at the bend (with a little tree further right) leave the road to the right and follow the narrow overgrown field path for 600 m. Until you reach Rue de Nivelles beyond the barrier. Here turn right. Alternative: continue following Vital Casse and after 600 m turn right onto Rue de Nivelles for a while. Then follow Rue de l’Ornoy for about 500 m (always following the bends). At the Y junction (with a large building on the right) turn right (still Rue de l’Ornoy, which quickly becomes Rue des Hayeffes), still alongside a business building. At the end, you arrive at Place du Peuple and turning left will take you back to the starting point.