The best gravel rides around Wanze

At the end of 2025, the urban planning permit for the renovation of the castle and its outbuildings was granted. It will be a large-scale restoration project – the complete renovation of the main castle and the improvement of the facades and roofs – aiming to breathe new life into this 17th-century gem, classified as exceptional heritage of Wallonia. The project includes the operation of the castle as a large guest house, combining historical preservation with public access. During my visit in July 2026, it was clearly visible that the works had started: there were construction containers along the driveway, where there was quite a bit of activity. source: haltinne.be

The domain of the Haltinne castle covers 279.98 ha of agricultural land, forests and meadows. The 'Struviaux' stream and several springs supply water to four ponds and the castle's moat. From an architectural point of view, the Haltinne castle is an exceptional heritage. Its appearance today is the same as when it was built in the mid-1600s. The imposing towers, loopholes and moat are reminiscent of a military function, but this is indeed a castle farm. Not only the facades, roofs and moat, but also the castle's monumental staircase are protected as exceptional heritage of Wallonia. This stone staircase has steps two meters wide, with a wide handrail also in stone. The massive character of this staircase contrasts with the statuettes representing the allegories of the four seasons. The wrought iron gate originally intended for King Leopold II and the 'Ciergnon' castle, the false windows in the east tower and the barn with a straw roof consisting of round limestone pillars are some other points of interest of the castle, which is however not publicly accessible. source: haltinne.be

A new fish ladder – the largest in Wallonia! – a veritable artificial river, allows aquatic wildlife to bypass the dam. The footbridge connecting the municipalities of Amay and Huy has been replaced and extended to span the main road. More information: https://construirelawallonie.be/nouvelles/le-site-eclusier-dampsin-neuville-est-equipe-de-la-plus-longue-passe-a-poissons-de-wallonie/

The gravel pit is a very rich site for photo enthusiasts or for walkers who wish to walk on maintained paths and observe birds in complete tranquility. Site recommended for walkers and photographers. Please, can you respect the rules such as keeping your dog on a leash (even if some people think they won't do any harm by letting their dog off the leash, know that you have animals with predator instincts which could scare away some species of birds that nest on the ground, like the kingfisher) and not swimming so as not to disturb the birds that are there. Thank you to all those who will respect the rules and I wish you a good hike or a good photo outing 🙏.

The current castle ensemble is largely 16th century, but was built around a 14th-century square keep. The location of that keep was, of course, strategically chosen: slightly elevated above the surroundings, this point offers a good view. The original military architecture gave way in the 16th century to a balanced combination of defense and residential comfort. In addition to the main building, the domain includes a farm, a barn, and several outbuildings, which together form a coherent whole. All these constructions are built from locally quarried limestone rubble, while carefully dressed limestone was used for lintels, sills, door frames, and window frames. This choice of materials testifies to the craftsmanship and the prosperity of the owners during that period. The oldest known lord associated with Famelette is Thiry Lardinois de Famelette, lord of Moha, indicating the close ties between the domain and the local feudal power structures. In 1441, the castle passed into the hands of Collar de Hosden, who held the office of bailiff of Moha. His function as a representative of the lordly authority underscores the administrative importance of Famelette within the region. A decisive phase in the castle's history began in 1558, when it was acquired by the Berlaymont de Floyon family, an influential noble dynasty in the Southern Netherlands. Under their rule, the domain underwent two thorough renovations, during which the existing medieval structures were expanded and embellished. The Berlaymont de Floyon family remained owners of the castle until the early 19th century, an era marked by profound political and social changes, including the consequences of the French Revolution. Famelette subsequently came into the hands of the noble Aspremont Lynden family, who sold the domain in 1878 to the Collinet family (owners of Carmeuse, the quarries). Source: www.burchten-kastelen.be

This RAVeL follows the old railway line 127, which once ran from Hannut to Huccorgne. The RAVeL winds through the heart of Hesbaye, past grain fields and orchards, and through villages like Villers-le-Peuplier and Avennes, before ending in the Burdinale and Mehaigne Valley Nature Park.

Excavations are conducted year-round at Moha Castle, making it unique in Belgium. When I visited, two archaeologists were uncovering a wall that runs beneath the visible castle and likely dates back to the 12th century.

The castle is free to visit. At the foot of the rock, there's a visitor center where you can pick up a badge to open the gate. For €4, you can also get a brochure with information about the most important points. The castle is only open to visitors starting in April, but the friendly man at the visitor center let me in on February 27th... as far as you can even call it "inside" at this ruin ;-)