Bettignies - Path of the Salmagne Mill (f074)

Hainaut, both French and Belgian, is a land of plateaus, cut through by two important valleys, the Scheldt and the Sambre, which were inhabited by the Nervians in ancient times. North of Maubeuge, the area is broad and intersected by small streams, extending into Wallonia in Belgium. Characterized by a rich urban and industrial past, thanks to the rise of Maubeuge and the development of the Sambre as a hub for trade and the exchange of goods, Walloon Hainaut is above all a landscape of contrasts. Bettignies This area, which consisted of vast agricultural lands, was organized around the Trouille valley and its tributaries, creating a separation between the immense fields, crossed by Roman roads from Bavay, and the narrow urban strip along the Sambre. This explains why two different urban areas seamlessly follow one another. Around Villers-Sire-Nicole, two horizons: an agricultural one, the Bavaisis, and an urban one, the industrial Sambre! Numerous small streams have led to the formation of the various rural villages. Thus, the municipalities of Vieux-Reng, Gognies-Chaussée, Bersillies, Bettignies, Elesmes, Mairieux, and Villers-Sire-Nicole join forces for flea markets, village games, and trade fairs to warmly welcome visitors who want to discover the activities in this border region. And then there are the French-Belgian events that take place several times a year! Walloon Hainaut therefore pays little attention to the border that was established after the revolution and caused the name to disappear from the administrative geography. It welcomes you with open arms and opens its paths to reveal an unexpected variety of landscapes in every season...