De Bastogne à Martelange (stage 9)

The route:
If you start from Bastogne-Sud railway station, the route follows the pre-RAVeL of the old No 163 line towards Sibret for 1.8 kilometres. At the official starting point in the Isle-le-Pré district, you leave the pre-RAVeL and follow a series of minor country roads leading to the village of Assenois. In the centre of this village, turn left towards the pre-RAVeL of the old local railway line 618 which goes through Salvacourt, Hompré, the magnificent site of the Strange lakes, where you will be tempted to idle, Hollange, Strainchamps, Bodange, Wisembach and Radelange before arriving at the border town of Martelange.

Surface: 
Asphalt on the connecting routes. Fine stones on the greenways, except in the communes of Vaux-sur-Sûre and Martelange, where the pre-RAVeL has an asphalt surface. On the stony parts, some narrow sections between grass may be slightly uncomfortable or a little muddy for short stretches. Suitable for trekking bikes. Poor one-kilometre stretch between Strainchamps and Bodange (unmade forest path).

Height difference: 
On the connecting routes, slightly hilly. On the pre-RAVeL, flat.

Signs:

Specific EV5 directional signs are in place along the entire route.

Safety, precautions: 
Care is required at two points: as you cross the N85 near Isle-le-Pré and the N848 in Radelange. Stay alert along the 900-metre section on the N848 regional road.

Connections:

• In Martelange, you can continue on the EV5 by joining the national cycling routes network of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in order to reach Redange, Arlon or Luxembourg city. Click here to see the detailed description.

Start:
To go to the start from the old Bastogne-Sud railway station, where you will be able to find somewhere to park: opposite the station turn left and then right and follow the Line 163 RAVeL for 1.8 kilometres towards Sibret as far as the Isle-le-Pré district.

Coordinates Lambert 72: X: 244912 m - Y: 76203 m.

GPS coordinates: Latitude: 49° 59' 22.32'' N - Longitude: 05° 41' 32.49'' E.

Rest areas:

Strange lakes in Hompré (for patrons only), Tannerie park in Martelange (upon arrival, behind the sports centre).

Guides/maps:

• RAVeL maps of the Provinces of Luxembourg published by the SPW. These maps, called ‘More RAVeL, more pleasure’, can be ordered free of charge via the RAVeL website by clicking here.
• For the Luxembourg national cycle paths (PC), see the map ‘Luxembourg By Cycle’  from the association LVI, the Luxembourg cycling initiative: www.lvi.lu.