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De Gouvy à Bastogne (stage 4)
On the Line 163 RAVeL
Family
28 km
The stage is laid out entirely along the old No 163 railway line, where folklore and delicious local produce with the smells of salted goods nestle in the heart of the region's valleys. You go deep into this green lung, the Belgian Ardennes, in peace and quiet and in total safety.
First of all, you cross through thick forests of deciduous and evergreen trees. After about 11 kilometres, a ridge marks the watershed between the basins of the Meuse and the Rhine. You are overlooking the Europe of the rivers… Carry on along your route on high farmland plateaux dotted with imposing farms to Bourcy, a quiet village at an altitude of 500 metres. From there, still sheltered by the RAVeL, you can reach Bastogne, the Belgian town most well known in the USA, because this is where a handful of GIs withstood the German offensive in the winter of 1944. Museums and other memorials are just waiting for you to visit and if you are there in April, you can watch the athletes pass by in quest of victory in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège cycle race.
Details
The route:
Starting from Haie de Bellain, follow the Line 163 RAVeL to Bastogne.
You go under railway bridges and past old, preserved railways stations, such as those of Tavigny, Bourcy, Bastogne-Nord and, to end with a flourish, the impressive Bastogne-Sud railway station and its little sister, the Bastogne-Martelange-Arlon local railway station which is almost opposite. Between Gouvy and Bourcy, attractive illustrated panels explain the history of the railway and the region.
As it passes through Bastogne, the RAVeL is a pleasant urban path, largely shady and adorned with portraits of typical people of the city.
Surface:
Smooth, asphalt.
Height difference:
Flat or imperceptible incline (max. 1.2%).
Signs:
Full directional signs with W9 identification panels are in place.
Panels bearing the 112 number to call in case of accident and indicating the kilometre of the railway line at this point can be found every kilometre.
Warnings
Useful info
Start:
Gouvy, place called "Haie de Bellain", rue du Wago. Parking area, beginning of the RAVeL L163 towards Bastogne.
Coordinates Lambert 72 : X : 263640 m - Y : 96799 m
GPS coordinates: Latitude: 50° 10' 17'' N - Longitude: 05° 57' 35'' E
Access by train: Gouvy railway station on the Liège-Luxembourg line. Opposite the station, follow the directional signs indicating Bastogne and Saint-Vith. The RAVeL is 2.2 km away.
Access by car: E25, junction 51, then N827 to Gouvy. At the entrance to Gouvy, by the church, go downhill on the right and then turn left by a chapel. The RAVeL car park is two kilometres away along rue du Wago.
Finish:
Bastogne-Sud train station, place de la Gare.
Coordinates Lambert 72 : X : 246142 m - Y : 77378 m
GPS coordinates: Latitude: 49° 59' 59'' N - Longitude: 05° 42' 35'' E
To go to the centre of the town upon arriving: With your back to the railway station, take the avenue de la Gare opposite, leave a one-way street on the left (or push your bike for 350 metres). Two hundred metres further on, turn left into rue de Neufchâteau (beware of traffic). The centre is 250 metres away.
Rest areas:
About four rest areas along the first 12 kilometres.
Guides/maps:
- RAVeL map of the Province of Luxembourg published by the SPW. This map, called ‘Plus RAVeL, more pleasure’, can be ordered free of charge by clicking here.
Around the route by bike:
- The heart of the Ardennes by bike: www.coeurdelardenne.be
- The Pays de Bastogne region by bike: www.paysdebastogne.be
- The Pays de Vielsalm region – Gouvy by bike: www.vielsalm-gouvy.be/fr
- A loop of about 50 km is described in the document: www.chemindurail.be/doc/Fiche_163.pdf
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