Welcome to Transeurotrek.com - 1st Trek: France and Belgium
Germany Munsterland to Brandenburg
France Aveyron to Haute Provence
FROM NORTH SEA TO MEDITERRANEAN
France and Belgium
FIRST SECTION - Friday 21 February to Sunday 2 March 2003 Dunkerque (France) to Geraardsbergen (Belgium-Flanders). Roads by canals and D3 in France and E2/GR5A in Belgium – 210 Km.
Started on the beaches of Dunkirk in cold frosty weather. Followed the Canal de Bergues to the mediaeval moated town Bergues. Explored the town ramparts in the frost and followed Canal de la Basse to Belgium. Frozen rivers, canals and lakes under clear, blue skies and bright sun. Cold wind at times. Field paths, quiet roads and deserted villages - few people and occasional shops. Followed slow-moving River Ijzer to Roesbrugge-Haringe. Terrain very flat for first three days, turning into gently undulating muddy farmland near Ypres. Series of WW1 cemeteries - too moving to dally at them all. Polish war memorial to the Liberation of 1944. Hop fields. Reached the first woodland and hills at Rodeberg. Followed River Leie, forming the border with France with lots of barges and huge locks, through Menem. Pretty town of Kluisbergtop near French border where it rained over night and morning was beautiful and misty. Lovely route in hilly country through rain and extensive woods to Parike and rain all the way to Geraardsbergen.
SECOND SECTION - Thursday 18 to Saturday 27 September 2003 Geraardsbergen (Flanders) to Huy (Wallonie). E2/GR5A for the first morning then north east on E2 and cut due east to Brussels on GR512, then GR579 – 196 Km (406Km).
Old town with mediaeval town hall and square on hill above the river. Hot sun and hazy days. Gently undulating fields, woods and farms mostly on pretty footpaths. Big skies, rivers and canals. Came into southern suburbs of Brussels from the west through tall forests planted by the Habsburgs - with rides and arboretums. Left south easterly through the forests into rolling quiet countryside - woods & fields, shallow valleys, drover tracks. Poorly signed route and navigated by compass along minor roads to leave Flanders for Wallonie. Flatter here with huge fields with frost in the morning. Joined the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Pretty route into Huy along our first steep hilly section with deep valleys and thicker bigger forest. In Huy arrived at our first big river – the Meuse – a lovely sight.
THIRD SECTION – Saturday 22 November to Friday 28 November 2003 Huy (Belgium-Wallonie) to Diekirch (Luxembourg-Ardennes) GR579 to meet E2 again at Vielsalm and follow it into Luxembourg – 187 Km.
Left Meuse in Huy and moved south then east through big flat fields to the deep valleys and thick deciduous woods of the Ardennes. On higher ground to reach the River Ourthe valley with chimney-shaped rock formations. A great ridge walk at 240m to Aywaille and beyond with sweeping views. Ascended through drizzle to moorland and wild dramatice scenery in the Hautes Fagues at 600m where we ran into a boar hunting party. Small desolate villages to Trois Ponts with memorials to the WW2 Battle of the Bulge. Beautiful walk alongside the River Salm to Salmchateau. Getting colder. Quiet farmland into the German speaking province at Burg Reuland - hilly-billy feel to the area. Followed River Our southwards through lovely forest and quiet countryside to Dreilaender where European unity was celebrated in 1957. Crossed minimalist border into Luxembourg.
DISTANCE IN FRANCE & BELGIUM – 538Km = 336 miles
