Nestled between expansive hardwood forests and the French border lies Momignies. You can almost feel the spirits of the Gauls drifting among the trees.

Text and photo Eddy Vlyminck

This peaceful village, with its impressive Renaissance town hall and beautiful music kiosk from 1867, is truly in a forgotten corner of Belgium. The railway that connected Momignies to Chimay in the 19^th century has now been transformed into a busy cycling path, the RAVeL, between the French Ohain and Chimay. The beautiful deciduous forests through which we walk date back to the time when the Gauls inhabited these regions. They were originally created to counteract Roman influences. In the meantime, they form a beautiful piece of nature to fully enjoy during this walk.

Last route check 2021/6

You start the walk at the Grand Place of Momignies, accessible by bus 156A from Chimay. Leave the square between the church and cafe La Boiserie, heading towards Séloignes. At the beautiful village square, turn left. Continue straight, past a small roundabout with a solitary tree and a dilapidated chapel until you reach RAVeL 156. Here, turn left on Rue des Hayettes. Just past house number 5, turn right. You are immediately in the ‘Bois des Hayettes’. Walk straight for a while. Ignore all side roads. When you reach an asphalt road for the second time, with some place name signs on the opposite side, turn left. Past the place name sign for Macon, turn right. You reach the ‘Chapelle N.D. des Affligés’. Follow the forest path to the right of the chapel (blue rectangle). A little further, at the fork, turn left. (You leave the blue path.) Descend quite steeply to a stream. Cross the stream and climb briefly but vigorously. Through a wide passage in the forest, you reach a broad crossroad. Turn left. Follow this path to an open space. Go straight, left of the holiday home, and walk beside a pond. Follow this path to a little bridge. Here, turn right. Continue along this narrow path until you reach an asphalt road. Go straight to the sign ‘Route Privé’. Take the path in the forest upwards here. Follow this winding path for quite a while (ignore all side roads) until you reach RAVeL 516. Turn right and immediately left, back into the forest. Walk straight until the second crossroad (wooden arrow to Séloignes). Turn right. Continue along this straight forest road until you reach an asphalt road. Turn right. At the first intersection, go straight across. A little further, turn left (Promenade des Hayettes). Follow this path to a house. Turn right. At the T-junction, turn right again. Walk straight until you reach the RAVeL. Cross the RAVeL and take the same way back to Momignies.