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Wallonie

Bonhomme de Fer Geodetic Marker

Wallonie

Bonhomme de Fer Geodetic Marker

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Bonhomme de Fer Geodetic Marker

Recommended by 134 hikers out of 138

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Location: Écaussinnes, Soignies, Hainaut, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Bonhomme de Fer Geodetic Marker

4.7

(116)

463

hikers

1. Tunnel des Amoureux – Path Along the Sennette loop from Écaussinnes-Lalaing

12.2km

03:15

130m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(124)

490

hikers

2. Tunnel des Amoureux – Path Along the Sennette loop from Henripont

14.3km

03:50

160m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.6

(43)

143

hikers

3. Houssière Wood – Wooden stairs loop from Henripont

7.98km

02:08

90m

100m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Katrien

September 7, 2021

The Bonhomme de Fer (the Iron Guy) may be overlooked by modern computing systems, but he remains a witness to our history and to the inventiveness of our ancestors. In the 19th century, with its 85 culmination points (including the hill of the Lion of Waterloo, the belfry of Mons, etc.), he contributed to the drawing of the map of Belgium using trigonometry.

The geodesic reference point, popularly known as the 'Bonhomme de fer' (the little iron guy), is located at the southern end of the forest of La Houssière. After helping to draw up the map of Belgium, it still served for the precise calculation of latitude and longitude, altitude, gravity…

Source: walloniebelgietoerisme.be/nl/content/de-bonhomme-de-fer-het-bos-van-la-houssiere-s-gravenbrakel

Translated by Google •

Yves

June 6, 2022

Bonhomme de Fer, a geodesic landmark that was once used to map Belgium by triangulation with other clearly visible points (such as the Lion of Waterloo) long before the appearance of GPS. Interesting place with signs pointing to other landmarks in the area and the distance (but often hidden by trees).

Translated by Google •

Bernard Vidotto

January 22, 2023

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Details

Informations

Elevation 140 m

Weather

Wednesday 31 December

4°C

1°C

26 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

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Location: Écaussinnes, Soignies, Hainaut, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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Bonhomme de Fer Geodetic Marker

1. Tunnel des Amoureux – Path Along the Sennette loop from Écaussinnes-Lalaing

2. Tunnel des Amoureux – Path Along the Sennette loop from Henripont

3. Houssière Wood – Wooden stairs loop from Henripont

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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