Discover Nature 2000 by bike

Various municipalities, provinces and nature organisations joined forces to develop a Natura 2000 cycle route that crosses both Flanders and Wallonia in the Markvallei. It enables families and sports enthusiasts to discover Natura 2000 in an accessible and sporty way.

The cycle route, up to 65 kilometres long, follows the meandering Mark and runs from Geraardsbergen via Lessines (Deux-Acren), Galmaarden and Herne to Edingen / Enghien. The cycle route takes visitors to the rediscovered meanders of the Markvallei, a dozen places where water mills used to run and where the last wading zone can be found. Various information panels at 11 beautiful locations highlight the most characteristic animal and plant species of the Natura 2000 areas concerned. By linking information about Natura 2000 and the region to a sporty activity and the already existing network of walking and cycling nodes ‘knooppuntennetwerk’, a wider audience is reached. To make the tour accessible to all, the presence of several railway stations has been taken into account. Cyclists, but also hikers, will have the opportunity to follow the route in several stages. Extra publicity at these railway stations also ensures increased visibility of the project.

Moreover, the municipalities through which the cycle route passes can be proud of their new green tourism initiative! The development of this interregional project has made it possible to strengthen the exchange and cooperation between 5 municipalities, 3 provinces and the 4 nature conservation organisations involved in the project, namely the Ligue Royale Belge pour la Protection des Oiseaux, asbl De Mark , Enghien Environnement – Nature et Transition and Contrat de Rivière Dendre.

The cycling map is available at the tourist information offices and also at the various local authorities. The map can be downloaded here from the website of Contrat de Rivière Dendre.