I was inspired for this ride by an article by Fien Meynendonckx in the Standaard about the Utopia project of the industrialist Jean-Baptiste André Godin . So that place situated in Guise I had set as my main goal. But as always a route lets you discover so much more. And that is also the case here. You get a glimpse of a beautiful unknown pearl just over the Belgian-French border: the western part of the Thiérache.

This motorcycle tour starts at the Mundaneum in Mons , a place that fits perfectly with the theme of this tour: utopias . Here the work of Paul Otlet is shown, one of the unjustly least known but most visionary Belgians. His work is also called “Google avant la lettre” or a "paper Google". And he also wanted to have an ideal world city built for it with big names like Le Corbusier .

From Mons we head south, towards the for many unknown Thiérache. But first we make a short stop just outside Mons at the house of Vincent van Gogh . Few people know that Van Gogh stayed here for a while to fulfill a religious task in daring circumstances, long before he became world famous as a painter.

The first French stop is Maubeuge , a town on the Sambre that once flourished thanks to its industry and its location on the border. Then it continues to Avesnes-sur-Helpe , a charming town with a rich history and an ideal place for a lunch break. Until here we follow the larger roads, because there is still a long way to go.

After Avesnes-sur-Helpe , the heart of the western Thiérache unfolds: a landscape of rolling hills, winding roads and kilometres of hedgerows that border the fields, grasslands and roads. Actually, Hageland would not be a bad regional name for this area.

After 82 kilometres we reach the utopia of Jean-Baptiste André Godin in Guise . Godin, who made his fortune in cast iron heating systems, built the Familistère here: a residential complex for his employees, complete with running water, gardens, swimming pool, covered courtyard, shops, schools and recreation areas. Everything is imbued with the idea of beauty, affordability and sustainability.

The tour passes through Bohain-en-Vermondois . Here, through the family home of Henri Matisse, you will discover the youth of this great artist. Matisse spent his childhood among the colours and seeds of the family business, where his passion for painting was ignited.

Don't underestimate the distance as you will be taking quite a few small roads. Allow enough time to enjoy the interesting stops. For those who prefer to take it easy, this trip can be perfectly divided into two days, with a comfortable overnight stay in Cambrai . In this charming city – known in Dutch as Kamerijk – you will find plenty of accommodation options, from modern hotels to cosy B&Bs, all within a short distance of the historic centre. Discover some beautiful walks in and around Cambrai here .

Cambrai is a city with a rich history: chalk has been extracted from underground galleries here since the Middle Ages, and the belfry of Cambrai is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After Cambrai, you will continue past small, picturesque villages towards Le Quesnoy , famous for its impressive fortifications by Vauban . This town is one of the largest fortified towns in France and played an important role during the First World War. In November 1918, Le Quesnoy was liberated by New Zealand soldiers, an event that is still commemorated by a monument on the ramparts.

Le Quesnoy is located on the edge of the Ardennes and was once one of the 'good cities' of the county of Hainaut. The city was already walled in the 12th century and had several names over the centuries, including the Flemish Kesenet or Kiezenet .

The route continues via La Flamengrie – a village almost entirely surrounded by Belgium – and through a curious bulge in the border to Dour , known for its eclectic music festivals. This five-day event takes place annually in July and attracts around 140,000 to 150,000 visitors.

Then you come to the Marcasse coalfield and another special utopia project: La Grand-Hornu , built between 1810 and 1830 by Henri De Gorge , and rightly also on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

You end the tour in Mons, where the new train station is definitely worth a visit, if you didn't see it at the start.