The Gaume RAVeL: cycling on forgotten railway tracks

Along the old railway tracks that once connected the villages of Gaume, the RAVeL (Autonomous Network of Slow Routes) now unfolds its paved ribbons through the rolling landscapes of southern Belgium. This network of cycling and pedestrian paths, built on former railway infrastructure, offers a gentle and contemplative way to discover Gaume.

A history of rails and patience

The railway lines that crossed Gaume had their heyday in the early 20th century, transporting goods and passengers between villages. With the decline of rail in favour of road transport, these tracks were gradually abandoned and dismantled. Rather than leaving these railway corridors derelict, the Walloon Region chose to transform them into paths accessible to all, without steep gradients.

The route follows the old constraints of rail: gentle slopes, wide curves, preserved engineering structures. A few metal bridges still bear witness to the railway engineering of yesteryear. You pass through sleepy hamlets, skirt meadows where cows graze peacefully, and cross beech and oak woodlands. The silence is disturbed only by birdsong and the soft sound of tyres on asphalt.

Exploring Gaume differently

The advantage of the RAVeL lies in its accessibility. You don't need to be an experienced cyclist to enjoy these flat or gently sloping routes. Families with children, walkers, people with reduced mobility can use these paths without difficulty. The network connects to villages, allowing stops at small local shops or diversions onto other country lanes.

Between Virton and Florenville, the RAVeL winds through typical Gaume landscapes: bocage, isolated orchards, old stone farms. You sometimes come across former stations converted into homes or small local museums. These railway stops, now frozen in time, recall an era when trains set the rhythm of village life.

An invitation to slow down

Taking the RAVeL means accepting to slow down. Here, there's no race against time. You cycle at your own pace, stop to observe a deer at the edge of a wood, picnic on a bench installed near a former level crossing. The route invites contemplation: the variations of light on the meadows, perched villages outlined in the distance, hedgerows bordering the fields.

Gaume is particularly well suited to this slow discovery. The RAVeL becomes a connecting thread from which you can weave your own exploration, branching off towards Torgny, descending towards the banks of the Semois, or joining country roads that climb towards the wooded plateaus. The former railway line, now dedicated to soft mobility, offers a new way to explore this border territory, between railway memory and the promise of unhurried walks.