ヴィロアンヴァルの天然記念物・トップ20

Walked past here today. Completely closed off with barbed wire. And inaccessible.

Ancient medieval castle. Visitable after a short walk.

“Carrière Prosper” is the name of the place that now houses around twenty climbing routes ranging from level 4C to 7A (more for experienced climbers). Adapting the quarry took around five hundred hours of work. “We have to remove the unstable stones, carefully inspect the quality of the rock and possibly fix it, and only at the end do we start drilling holes to install what we call ‘the pins’, i.e. the belay points,” explains Koen Hauchecorne, head of rocks at the Flemish Climbing Federation (this federation manages this site and a dozen others, and it’s more or less the same for its French-speaking counterpart).

The Fondry des Chiens in Nismes, also known as the Belgian Grand Canyon, is a natural hollow formed by the seepage of rainwater through the limestone bedrock. It is a unique geological phenomenon and one of the few places in Belgium where you can see such natural gorges. The hollow is approximately 100 metres long and 20 metres deep. The area is surrounded by limestone grassland and dotted with rocks, crevices and caves. The site is rich in rare flowers such as wild orchids and ball daisies, and offers a habitat for various butterflies and lizards. The area is recognised as a nature reserve and is protected because of its vulnerable flora and fauna.

Challenging hiking trails lead to this location.

beautiful view. A must if you are in the area

An extremely photogenic place!

The intensive climb is prohibited, there is a beautiful approach road that is well signposted and leads along a long staircase. The site is also prohibited - unless at your own risk - but is very well secured. Beautiful panorama of the surroundings.