D'Hoppe and surroundings Music Forest

Forest walk to the west of D'Hoppe. From D'Hoppe through the Bos Ter Rijst, Sint-Pietersbos, and the Bos Ter Eecken to Louise-Marie and further through the Muziekbos and Pottelbergbos with Pottelberg back to D'Hoppe.

Nodes: 6-52-40-39-37-38-43-44-45-46-36-35-91-92-32-93-7-9

D’Hoppe

D'Hoppe (French: La Houppe) is a hamlet in the Belgian province of Hainaut. It is predominantly a Dutch-speaking hamlet that belongs to the municipality of Vloesberg (French: Flobecq). It is located on the Pottelberg, with the Rhodesberg to the east. Vloesberg has long been a disputed area between Flanders and Walloon, previously between the counties of Flanders and Hainaut. In those days, it was referred to as the Land of Debates. At the establishment of the language border, the municipality of Vloesberg remained part of the province of Hainaut and thus in the French-speaking region. However, the municipality does have language facilities for Dutch speakers who request them.

Bos Ter Rijst

The Bos Ter Rijst is a nature reserve in the Flemish Ardennes in South-East Flanders (Belgium). The 25 ha domain forest is managed by the Flemish government agency Agency for Nature and Forest. The nature reserve is located on the territory of the municipality of Maarkedal (sub-municipality of Schorisse). The area is recognized as a European Natura 2000 site (Forests of the Flemish Ardennes and other South Flemish forests) and is part of the Flemish Ecological Network. The Bos Ter Rijst owes its name to the former coppice management. Until the 18th century, young trees and shrubs in the forest were cut to the ground every five to ten years. The felled wood was bundled into faggots – called rod wood – for baking ovens.

The Bos Ter Rijst is elongated on the steep eastern slope along the upper course of the Molenbeek. The forest is situated in the hilly landscape of the Flemish Ardennes. The elevation drops sharply from 95 to 105 m in the southeast to 50 to 65 m in the northwest. The Molenbeek is fed by many springs in the forest and to the south of it. At the entrance of the forest, a memorial stone was unveiled in honor of Marcel Nachtergaele, one of the pioneers in nature conservation. The ponds along the Molenbeek provide ideal habitats for reptiles and amphibians. In 2003, no less than 30 bird species were observed, including tawny owl, long-eared owl, hawfinch, buzzard, glossy head, and nuthatch. The fire salamander can be found in the spring areas, and at the edge of the forest, the slow worm has found its place. The Molenbeek serves as habitat for three-spined stickleback, bank vole, and river loach. Due to its small area and relatively isolated location, the Bos Ter Rijst is quite poor in mammals. Nonetheless, hares, hedgehogs, moles, weasels, squirrels, and stoats can be found here. On the eastern slope of the forest, the fox digs its den. The Bos Ter Rijst is a very diverse forest. Along the stream bank, one can find common ash, black alder, and hazel. Furthermore, primarily beech, but also oak, hornbeam, summer oak, maple, and poplar can be found. The herb layer includes various plant species: giant horsetail, hanging sedge, wood sedge, pil sedge, pale sedge, airy sedge, spread-leaved goldilocks, cow parsnip, meadowsweet, ... About ten species of blackberries can also be found, including forest blackberry and bald forest blackberry [2]. In spring, the spring bloomers create a colorful carpet: wild hyacinth, wood anemone, ...

Sint-Pietersbos

The Sint-Pietersbos is a nature reserve near the Muziekberg in the Flemish Ardennes in South-East Flanders (Belgium). The Sint-Pietersbos is 57 hectares in size and connects to the 52 hectare Muziekbos. The Sint-Pietersbos was purchased in 2011 by the Flemish government from the noble family Gautier de Rasse. The forest area is partly a nature reserve. The Sint-Pietersbos is located on the territory of the municipality of Ronse. The Ferraris map already designated the forest as 'St Peetersbosch'. The forest is managed by the Flemish government agency Agency for Nature and Forest. The forest is recognized as a European Natura 2000 site (Forests of the Flemish Ardennes and other South Flemish forests) and is part of the Flemish Ecological Network. Within the European nature objectives, a further 100 hectares of forest is to be created over time at the Muziekbos and Sint-Pietersbos. The Sint-Pietersbos is located on and around the slope of the witness hill Muziekberg (150 m). Numerous animal species live in the Sint-Pietersbos: nuthatch, fox, tawny owl, buzzard, black woodpecker, roe deer, red admiral, peacock butterfly, and spotted fritillary, ... In the Trochbeek in the Sint-Pietersbos, the river loach still lives. The Sint-Pietersbos was not cut down during the First World War and still contains summer oaks, oaks, and ashes over 150 years old (with a circumference of up to four meters).

Bos Ter Eecken

The Bos Ter Eecken is a nature reserve in the Flemish Ardennes in South-East Flanders (Belgium). The forest area is located on the territory of the municipality of Ronse. It lies to the north of the Schorissesteenweg between Louise-Marie and Schorisse. The forest is partly managed by the Flemish government agency Agency for Nature and Forest. The forest is recognized as a European Natura 2000 site (Forests of the Flemish Ardennes and other South Flemish forests) and is part of the Flemish Ecological Network.

Louise-Marie

Louise-Marie is a hamlet on the border of Maarkedal and Ronse. Louise-Marie has a relatively young history. The parish originated during the Dutch period (1815-1830) from a natural, social, and geographical connection between residents from the municipalities of Ellezelles, Ronse, Nukerke, Schorisse, and Etikhove. The plans to build its own church were delayed due to the independence of Belgium. Ultimately, the first stone of the church was laid in 1850. The fact that the first Belgian queen, Louise Marie of Orléans, died on the day of the laying of the church's cornerstone would explain the name of the parish Louise-Marie, although this cannot be said with certainty. Simultaneously with the church, a rectory and school were also built. On September 19, 1853, the church was officially inaugurated. On that date, the first fair was held in Louise-Marie, which is still an annual tradition. The most characteristic building for Louise-Marie is undoubtedly the rest home Saint-Leonard from 1902 in neo-Gothic style.

Louise-Marie is a unique village in the middle of the Flemish Ardennes, located on the northern slope of the Muziekbos on the border of Maarkedal and Ronse. The village is one of much exuberance, festive fairs, beer fests, hard labor... In this area, the Flemish Ardennes are at their best: the hilly landscape, the beautiful forests, the winding country roads and paths, the peace and quiet, in short, everything for walkers, cyclists, or nature lovers to enjoy. The Muziekberg with an elevation of 147m is one of the attractions and is within walking distance of the beautiful church and village square where you can find the artwork "Louise-Marie there is music in it." An added value for the village square and a symbol for our parish. A sculpture of which the people of Louise-Marie can justly be proud and which may make others a little envious. There is also a spacious parking area from which many walking and cycling routes start.

Muziekbos

The Muziekbos is a nature reserve on the Muziekberg in the Flemish Ardennes in South-East Flanders (Belgium). The Muziekbos is 52 hectares in size and connects to the 57 hectare Sint-Pietersbos. The domain forest is managed by the Flemish government agency Agency for Nature and Forest. The forest is recognized as a European Natura 2000 site (Forests of the Flemish Ardennes and other South Flemish forests) and is part of the Flemish Ecological Network. Within the European nature objectives, a further 100 hectares of forest is to be created over time at the Muziekbos and Sint-Pietersbos. The Muziekbos is located on and around the slope of the witness hill Muziekberg (150 m). The name Muziekbos originally has nothing to do with music. The "Muz" in the word Muziekbos does refer to the Celtic "moor" - a marshy patch of ground located between water bodies. The Muziekbos is situated in the highly hilly landscape of the Flemish Ardennes, with steep valley walls, rolling hills, and deeply incised valleys. Three million years ago, these hills still lay like sandbanks on the shore of a shallow and tropical sea. At the highest point of the forest stands the Geuzentoren, a round tower from 1864 made of iron sandstone. A stone's throw from the Geuzentoren lies a prehistoric burial mound from the Bronze Age. The burial chamber was located centrally in the hill. Here, two urns containing burned bones of a man and a woman, ashes, and coal were found. The Muziekbos provides shelter to countless animal species: nuthatch, fox, tawny owl, buzzard, black woodpecker, roe deer, red admiral, peacock butterfly, and spotted fritillary, ... In the Trochbeek in the Sint-Pietersbos, the river loach still lives. On the restored heath with gorse thicket at the top of the Muziekberg, blue-winged grasshopper and green sand beetle can be found. The Muziekbos is primarily known for the spring bloomers. In spring, wood hyacinths ("blue socks"), lesser periwinkle, and wild garlic create a colorful patchwork. The rare purple toothwort, listed on the Flemish red list of plants, is also found in the Muziekbos. The adjacent Sint-Pietersbos was not cut down during the First World War and still contains summer oaks, oaks, and ashes over 150 years old (with a circumference of up to four meters).