Ramillies-Sambre-Namur-Meuse-Ramillies 110 km

Nice cycling tour on RAVeL cycling paths and tow paths along the Sambre and the Meuse with a nice descent through the valley of the La Ligne river and a beautiful climb to the Citadelle in Namur. You can find something to eat and drink mainly in Namur and along the Meuse, but also in Perwez and there is a bar at the start, at the former station of Ramillies, where there is also ample parking.
From the start you go directly on the RAVeL cyling path. The cycling path bifurcates in the L142 and L147, and you follow the L147 to Perwez, and then to Gembloux across the water divide between Meuse and Scheldt. In Gembloux you continue further on the L147 to Sombreffe. Here you leave the RAVeL cycling path and follow the valley of the La Ligne river to the Orneau river. From the Orneau river you cycle towards the Sambre river. You follow this canalized river on a RAVeL cycling path directly on the river all the way to Namur. The paving of this cycling path is of varying quality, but bumpy in places. Just before Namur you cross the river on a bridge across a weir and locks. From here you follow the tow path along the Sambre largely on (not too difficult) cobblestones to the start of the funicular. You leave the towpath, cross the Sambre and cycle along the Meuse to the Pont des Jambes. You cross the Meuse and then cycle south along the Meuse on its east bank on cycling routes. Between Jambes and Dave you follow the main road and then cross the Meuse on the Barrage de Tailfer. Here there is a new cycling path taking you back all the way to Namur. Here starts the climb of the Route Merveilleuse to the Citadelle. The climb is on small cobblestones, not too difficult and with great views on the way. Once at the Esplanade de Citadelle you descend back to the Sambre on a smooth and winding asphald road, cross the Sambre and cycle past the cathedral to the access of the RAVeL cycling path L142. This cycling path first climbs onto the Hesbaye plateau and then continues across the water divide back to Ramillies. At Éghezée the former railroad and now cycling path is interrupted for a short detour around the sugar syrup plant Râperie de Longchamps with its basins (décanteurs).