Ellezelles (or Elzele) is a small place in the north of the province of Hainaut, about 5 km from Ronse. The area is part of the natural park Parc naturel du Pays des Collines.

Text and photo Mark Dedapper

Since the thirteenth century, the area has been a constant point of contention between Flanders and Hainaut. In 1610, the local witch Quintine was allegedly hanged and burned in Ellezelles. To commemorate this, an annual witches' sabbath has been organized since 1972. Quintine has also been immortalized in a beer from the local brewery. We follow the signs of the walking network ‘Pays des Collines’ and experience a varied walk with a succession of paths and low-traffic roads through rural landscapes and forests with numerous viewpoints. In damp weather, it can be slippery and muddy in places.

The route

Start: Place, Ellezelles (parking) – public transport: bus TEC 87 Ronse-Lessines - not on Sunday. Go towards the church on the right of the Place. Behind the church, you arrive at KP 15 – right to KP 12, where you leave the main road diagonally to the right (Rue des Grands Prés) until KP 82. Path straight towards KP 17 - here you follow a piece of the Sentier de l’Etrange (1) with bizarre sculptures. At T turn left and at an intersection of roads, you arrive at KP 17. Continue straight to KP 18. Note: 200 m past KP 17, a dead-end path on the right (Bruyère) – you enter a beautiful forest. At a wider grass path, turn left to KP 18, a few meters further. Cross the cycle path (RAVeL) (2) and go diagonally right to KP 38. At N520, turn left. After 250 m, past house no. 1, take the field path on the right. At KP 38, turn left to KP 14, where you turn right to KP 5 (at Y-split). Here you take the left fork towards KP 6. 500 m further, the asphalt turns into a beautiful forest path (where possible, take the forest path above the hollow road). After about 300 m, you arrive at a crossroad with signage ("Danger" - no passage). The path is interrupted further on due to a ground subsidence, which is currently practically insurmountable. As long as the path is not restored, take the rising forest road to the right here, which comes out on the road after just over 100 m - turn left and continue along the road for 600 m until d'Hoppe (cafés). Beyond Chalet Gérard, you reach KP6.

Turn left towards KP 9 (partly hollow road). On asphalt, go straight for a moment and 75 m further, at the end of the asphalt, turn left, still following KP 9. Again a beautiful hollow road. At KP 9, sharply turn right (national road N520) and 100 m further, a parallel road towards KP 7. Back on the main road, turn right and 125 m further, sharply turn left (dead-end road). This road becomes a path. At the next asphalt road, a few meters straight ahead and almost immediately a narrow path to the left. At the next road, you arrive at KP 7 - go straight to KP 40 – pay attention: at a T-turn right and immediately sharply left - 100 m further, you arrive at the RAVeL at KP 40. Follow the RAVeL to the right until KP 10, 50 m further, at a bank of beer crates take the path diagonally left to KP 82. Along the way, you pass the local brewery, the Brasserie des Légendes (4), with a pleasant terrace. Beyond house no. 31, a narrow path to the left to KP 82 - right to KP 12. Follow the Rue d’Audenarde diagonally right and you will arrive at the Place. For the bus at the end of the Place, diagonally right onto Rue de Renaix.

Need more walking inspiration? Surf to www.pasar.be/wandeltips