Just over the ‘Schreve’, Frans-Vlaanderen still offers pure authenticity. Boeschepe is the ideal starting point for a breathtaking hiking trip around the Catsberg and its abbey.

Text and photo Guido Elias

This walk starts at the Saint Martin's Church of the sleepy border village of Boeschepe (7 km from Poperinge) opposite the ‘Mairie’. You can also park easily there. The route goes over quiet, partly unpaved roads and paths, past typical Frans-Vlaamse cafés where you should taste the picon, past mills, a British war cemetery, right up to the top of the Catsberg, which you can see everywhere – thanks to its high mast – during the hike. You can take a break at the abbey or buy cheese, then descend through a piece of forest and then return to Boeschepe and the starting point, the Saint Martin's Church there, over sometimes steep climbing roads and through the fields. This hiking route was mapped out along the ‘Monts de Flandre’ junction network.

The route

Near the church stands the first sign of the hiking network that we follow. From junction 98, go straight ahead, the Rue de la Mairie towards junction 92. From there, head towards 93 diagonally right straight ahead through the Rue du Moulin. Notice the Ondankmeulen on the right, continue straight ahead through the fields and from 93 to 94 past resto ‘In de Zunne’. Be careful: the sign for junction 94 is somewhat hidden (this is often the case along this route!). Continue straight ahead and downhill to 95 (chapel). Further straight ahead to 13, walking a distance along the Route du Vieux Château Berquin. After about 800 m at junction 13 at the road split, turn left towards 18. The road climbs, at 18 it goes almost straight ahead to 22 which you reach after about 400 m by a British war cemetery (1). There are also some French buried. Now continue towards near 21 and then via an ascending field path, with extensive fields on the left, to KP 23 located more than 1 km further. It can also be muddy here in summer. At the asphalt road, turn left after which you finally reach 23 (at a chambre d’hôtes). Now turn left towards 26, downhill (towards Auberge du Catsberg), then uphill and turn left at the asphalt road to 26 (sign somewhat hidden!). From here it is about 100 meters to 52, with the Estaminet du Mont des Cats, then the abbey and chapel (2). Attention! Now to 51 which is nearby (sign a bit hidden again) and then downhill through a piece of forest to 54. At the edge of the forest, there are often donkeys for rides. At 54, turn left towards 34 downhill through the forest and a piece of sunken road. You reach an asphalt road and turn left towards 33 via the Chemin du Peenacker. Now follow RA 57 and immediately turn right onto a narrow path to 60 at the asphalt road. Then right via Chemin des 5 Rues to 72, which is more than 1 km further at a road intersection. Now go to 73 first straight ahead then left; the road rises constantly. Once there head towards 88, via an asphalt road, after quite a distance turn left a bit further over asphalt (generally rising) and then follows a strong stretch of walking over a field road, which can be muddy in rainy weather. At the end of the field road, you come onto an asphalt road, turn right towards 89, further straight ahead to 90 and the church (arrival) at junction 98 and the parking lot.

Junctions: 98 (V)-92-93-94-95-13-18-22-21-23-26-52-51-54-34-33-57-60-72-73-88-89-90-98 (A)