Cycling in the Flemish Ardennes: between Oudenaarde and Horebeke
This cycle route has been carefully checked and screened for accessibility. Via this link, you can view a map with necessary information about the surface, possible obstacles, and accessible facilities.
Flemish-Brown: take your time to enjoy this bittersweet heritage
Start
Start: Market square in Oudenaarde
Our adventure begins in Oudenaarde, the beating heart of the Flemish Ardennes. Every year, this region provides the backdrop for the famous spring classics. We make our acquaintance with it even before our trip begins. Oudenaarde is home to the Tour of Flanders Centre. At this experience centre, you can dive into the soul and heroism of the Tour, which takes place on the winding roads, steep slopes and cobbles of the Flemish Ardennes. The ideal venue for a fascinating lesson in cycling history. But first, we let our own legs do the talking. The starting shot rings out, and we set off on our adventure.
Liefmans Brewery
About a kilometre later, we are already tempted to stop. We have come across Liefmans Brewery. This icon on the banks of the Scheldt has been around since the 17th century. Liefmans proudly wears its history on its sleeve. In the brewery museum, you can see the original brewing equipment. It is still a little early to sip the famous Goudenband. At this time of day, a fruity and refreshing non-alcoholic beer is probably more suitable, such as Liefmans On The Rocks 0.0. In any case, we'll have plenty of opportunities for a drink later on at one of the lovely terraces along the way.
Ename Heritage Site
From here, we follow the flat cycle path along the Scheldt. A few kilometres further on, we discover the archaeological remains of Ename Abbey in the Archeopark. And right next to it, we explore the Ename Heritage Site, which introduces us to the rich heritage of this region. This heritage site blends seamlessly into the rolling green countryside. Our journey now takes us past Bos t'Ename (forest). Centuries-old trees provide the necessary oxygen. With a bit of luck, you might even spot red and white cattle or a Konik horse. Along this lush forest, we head for the expansive fields of the Flemish Ardennes. We occasionally hit the breaks, because the landscape is so photogenic, we have to stop and take it in. The Tissenhove mill is a great example. It is one of the oldest mills in the country, and well worth a stop.
Roman Brewery, °1545
As we are about halfway through our trip, we take a break at Roman Brewery, the oldest family brewery in our country. The history of this site dates back to 1545. For centuries, Roman has been brewing a rich assortment of beers using traditional methods. But a long history doesn't mean a brewery can't be innovative. This brewery is one of the pioneers of non-alcoholic barley beer. Their Ramon (0.3%) is a unique and refreshing low-alcohol beer. In 2025, it was voted Beer of the Year at the London Beer Competition. You can learn more about it on a fascinating tour. Fancy tasting this delicious brew on site? No problem! Or prefer an authentic brown pub? De Lustigen Boer, which we will come across a little further on, comes highly recommended.
Slopes in the Flemish Ardennes
Via the charming village of Horebeke, we ride into the hilly area of the Flemish Ardennes. Some of these slopes will definitely ring a bell with cycling enthusiasts. At Langekouter, we make a brief stop for a photo. We enjoy the view of the Taaienberg and the Stationsberg, familiar names in the spring cycling season in Flanders. The plus point of all that climbing? You get to cycle downhill again! We whizz through the countryside back towards the starting point of our tour.
Finish: heritage in Oudenaarde
The challenging Ladeuze is the last obstacle of the day. After that we cruise on to the heart of Oudenaarde. Passing the town hall and St. Walburga's Church, we return to our starting point. We have had a wonderful trip. We lock up our bikes and go for a drink at De Carillon, an old pub in a 17th-century brick house. According to tradition, this is the oldest pub in the city. A dream location to relax and look back on a memorable day.
Finish
Practical details
- Parking:
Parking De Ham or Parking Meersepoort - Public transport:
Oudenaarde station - Bike rental:
Blue-Bike, Bike Experience Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen - Nodes:
95 – 93 – 92 – 92 – 86 – 79 – 72 – 73 – 78 – 94 – 33 – 4 – 98 – 32 – 35 – 30 – 25 – 22 – 56 – 55 – 40 – 8 – 8 – 7 – 96 - 96
