Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

312 TRAVELLERS’ NEEDS

SPORTING AND

ACTIVITY HOLIDAYS

B

elgium and Luxembourg are

well known for periodically

producing a flurry of excep-

tional sporting talent, such as the
cyclist Eddy Merckx or the tennis

players Justine Henin and Kim
Clijsters. There is a constant level

of activity in all fields of sport,
especially soccer, water sports,

cycling, golf, horse riding and judo.
Visitors are always welcome to join in.

Popular holiday activities are

cycling, walking, kayaking and

windsurfing, as these take full

advantage of the hills, rivers, lakes

and coastline. Both countries have

promoted this by creating an

extensive network of paths for the

exclusive use of cyclists, walkers

and riders, with links to accom-

modation. Here is a chance not only to

get healthy, but also have a holiday.

Cyclists dressed for the part in Belgium

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

in the Luxembourg City marathon

CYCLING

As a convenient mode of
transport, a leisure pursuit and
a major professional sport,
cycling is big in Belgium.
Consequently, there is no
shortage of specialist shops,
bike-hire companies or cycle
routes. The flat landscape in
much of Flanders is ideally
suited to touring by bicycle.
The Ardennes in Wallonia and
Luxembourg present more
of a challenge, with spe cial ist
circuits for mountainbikes.
A number of long-distance
cycling routes cross this
region. In Flanders, LF Routes
(Landelijk Fietsplatform routes)
take cycle-friendly paths
between strategic destinations.
The RAVel network consists
of five routes that criss-cross
Wallonia, and are reserved for
bicycles, other non-motorized
vehicles and pedestrians. The
roads tend to follow disused
railway- and tram-lines and
canal tow paths. The longest,
RAVel 1, goes east to west via
Tournai, Mons, Namur and
Liège, while RAVel 2 runs north

MARATHONS

The biggest race in Belgium

is 20 km de Bruxelles, a half-

marathon run by some 25,000

participants in May. In the

same month, Luxembourg has

a full marathon. Known as The

Night Run, it begins at 6pm

and may continue past mid-

night. This event is coupled

with a half-marathon.

HIKING AND RAMBLING

Belgium and Luxembourg offer

some of northern Europe’s

most rewarding walks. The

region is crossed by several of

the marked transnational Les

Sentiers de Grande Randonnée

(Long-distance Paths). One

of these is the GR 5, which

links the Netherlands to the

Mediterranean via Liège and

Luxembourg. Another, the GR

AE (Ardennes–Eifel) includes

the Semois valley (see pp228–

9). GR 56 crosses the Hautes

Fagnes (see p223); GR 57 fol-

lows the valley of River Ourthe

past Durbuy, Hotton and La

Roche-en-Ardenne (see p226)

into Luxembourg; GR 129

links the rivers Scheldt and

Meuse; and GR 12 joins Paris

to Amsterdam via Brussels.

The RAVel routes in Wallonia

are also open to walkers.

There are many other circular

paths, for instance, around

Bouillon (see p230), Rochefort

(see p211) and Echternach

(see p251): maps are available

at the local tourist offices.

There are also marked paths

for short walks in wood land

areas such as Nationaal Park

Hoge Kempen (see p168),

Averbode Bos (see p162) and

Forêt de Soignes (see p165).

Luxembourg has a dense

network of paths, totalling to

over 5,000 km (3,100 miles)

in length. Many begin at a

point accessible by train or

car. The popular Müllerthal

Trail in Little Switzerland (see

p250) has 100 km (62 miles)

of interlinked paths.

to south via Namur and

Dinant. Rando Vélo

pro vides infor mation

about long-distance

cycling routes. Another

useful refer ence is the

cycling promoter, Pro

Vélo. Luxembourg’s

equiv alent of the RAVel

network – Fédération

du Sport Cycliste

Luxembourgeois – has

built some 575 km (355

miles) of dedicated

cycle paths, and plans

to double that length.

Sand yacht at

De Panne