La Condruzienne

• The best time to ride is between April and October, but March and November are possible in case of limited rain fall. December to February are less recommended as the area will be quite muddy and descents can be quite slippery. Be aware in case of heavy rainfall, as there are several sections that cross or ride along the many rivers in the area. And except during high summer, the Hermeton and Soulmie river passages will likely give you some wet feet.
• The route starts and ends at the Railway station of Namur.
• The Belgian rail system is quite bike friendly, and adding a bike to your ticket costs 7.5 Euro, regardless of travel distance or duration.
• For those coming by car, there are plenty of multi-day parking spots in the area.
• The route brings you out of the city in no time, and you will be surprised how fast you’re out in a rural area in one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
• Some sections are on private property with a right to pass. People are generally friendly as long as you live according to the golden rule: Leave nothing behind except your tire tracks.
• A hardtail MTB with two-inch, fast-rolling tires is preferred. A gravel bike with 42mm tires can be considered in case of sustained dry conditions if you are skilled enough for the few rocky climbs and descents and you don’t mind some hike-bike sections.
• As the route has many twists and turns and forest track crossings are frequent, a handlebar-mounted GPS with an OpenSourceMap layer is highly recommended.

• The region has several good camping spots. Some are noted on the map.
• Free camping is technically not allowed in Belgium, but there are a few primitive bivy spots in a nice setting where a one-night stay is allowed.
• Alternatively, stealth camping for one night can be considered if you arrive late and leave early. There is frequent ranger patrol to prevent fire break-outs, so be careful and courteous and take all precautions to minimize the risk to disturb anyone. And, as always, leave absolutely no trace you were there.
• Those who want a bit more comfort, the whole region is well equipped with good auberges and inexpensive B&B’s.

• Food is easy to find along the route, and several villages like Anseremme and Heer-Agimont have a small grocery store to resupply.
• Belgium is well-known for its bakeries, and some of the best ones, which absolutely deserve a stop, are noted on the map.
• Drinking water fountains are sparse in Belgium. You are never far from agricultural activity, so you need to purify water when you decide to refill from the small side rivers. Alternatively, don’t hesitate to stop at a local pub or even ring at a local house or a farm. Most people are very friendly and will help you out with water from the tap.
• The southern part of the route, especially the 30-kilometer stretch between Heer-Agimont and Hastiere, is fairly remote with limited supplies, so be sure to always carry some spare food and water.

Below you will find a recommended four-day clockwise itinerary. Counter-clockwise is possible but will deprive you of some nice views. Doing the route in three days is challenging as the many in-out valley stretches should not be underestimated. Doing the route in five days is easy and will allow you to visit some of the castles and fortresses on the route. Bakeries and some possible camping spots are noted on the map.

location Namur – region around Spontin

Day 1 (60-70 km)

This day is short time-wise and allows for a late start after arriving and getting your gear sorted. The route starts in Namur, the capital of the Walloon Region in Belgium. Right after the start, you’ll be rewarded with the first highpoint of this trip after a nice climb on an ancient footpath leading to the top of La Citadelle, the huge fortress that has covered the whole region since the Middle Ages. The next 40 kilometers bring you out of the Meuse valley up to the plateau before you are dive into the lovely region around the river Bocq with the beautiful Donjon of Crupet and the castle of Spontin.

location Toward the region between Falmignoul and Heer-Agimont

Day 2 (80-90 km)

This day around the river La Lesse will give you stunning views of castles and fortresses and nice singletrack climbs and descents. The Chateau de Veves, the Royal Castle of Walzin, and the viewpoint on Les Aiguilles de Chaleux are likely to be unforgettable experiences.

location Toward the region between Dinant and Anthee

Day 3 (80-90 km)

The section between Heer and Hastiere in the southwest part of the ride is the most remote area of the route where you will follow the side-rivers Hermeton and Soulmie, which will likely bring muddy passages and short river crossings.

After crossing the Meuse in Waulsort, you will follow the river along the largest rock-climbing massif in Belgium before you reach the city of Dinant where the huge Citadel, a fortress with a strong World War I battleground history, oversees the whole region.

location Back to Namur

Day 4 (80-90 km)

The last part of the route guides you along the backyard of the Abbeys of Maredsous and Maredret through farmlands and deciduous forests before reaching Namur again, where you’ll arrive on the esplanade at the top of the Citadel de Namur, where you started a few days ago.