Tasting of the Pays des Collines

We start in Velzeke at Sint Martinuskerk and pass Sint Antoniuskapel in Knutsegem to the zwalmmolen in Roborst. Along Rozebeke we head towards Michelbeke to reach the highest point of Brakel and its surroundings by a long climb. Along Bureken we cross the ridge with beautiful views left and right.

We cross the Brakel-Ronse track and descend along De Hoppe through the Pottelbergbos. By winding roads, we drive in a large bend around Elzelles and so on towards Saint Sauveur.

Via Frasnes-lez-Anvaign, we cross the wood of Leuze and then pedal through "the middle of nowhere" to Wodecq. Via Vloesberg / Flobeq, a nice long climb and descent takes us to Opbrakel. We climb along the side of the Kleiberg and return to the watchtower above Brakel, to start a long descent to Michelbeke. In Michelbeke, take the traffic-free miners' path back to Velzeke via Strijpen.

After Els, we descend the Leberg for once to arrive in Zegelsem. Once along the steenweg Brakel - Oudenaarde, we continue on exceptionally scenic roads to just before Schorisse. In good weather, you will certainly imagine yourself in the south of the France.

After Schorisse we drive via Kerkem / Maarkedal on the ridge of the slope to Renaix. Do not forget to enjoy the wide view, despite the long "false flat".

With a big bend, drive above and around Ronse via the Hotonberg towards the Pays Des Collines. Descend through the forest of Hoton and head straight to the first village of the Pays des Collines: Saint-Sauveur.

Continue towards Frasnes-lez-Anvaing and climb quietly through the beautiful wood of Leuze that we drive on totally deserted country roads towards Wodecq. In Wodecq we take direction Vloesberg. Before Vloesberg we cross the main road to make a beautiful climb of 2 km to the Bois de la Louvière. There we take the semi-paved forest path that descends slowly, crosses the forest for several kilometers.

Once past the forest, the old miners' path takes the thousand Flemish workers from Flanders to the coal mines of Ronse and beyond. We pedal about ten kilometers on this old railway. At the end we turn left and 1 kilometer further we pass several beautiful breweries located around and around an old water mill on the Zwalm. It's worth resting.

From here we return to Velzeke, but this time not along the paddestraat but along the Sint Antoniuskapel in Knutsegem.

Those interested can visit the Gallo-Roman Provincial Museum in Velzeke, others can relax in the brewery Het Romeins Hof, near the church.