The Raspaillebos is located on the steep eastern flank of the Bosberg witness hill. This beech forest is located in the very relief-rich landscape on the border of the Flemish Ardennes with the Pajottenland, with steep valley walls, rolling hills and deeply incised valleys. The 50 ha Raspaillebos, together with the Moerbekebos, the Karkoolbos and the Kluisbos, belongs to a 150 ha forest area on the flanks of the Bosberg.
The Raspaillebos once belonged to a forest that was called 'Arduenna' by the Romans and was known as 'Kolenwoud' in the time of the Franks. This name originates from the Iron Age, when charcoal was burned en masse for the production of iron.
The name of the forest is said to be derived from the term "rapaille" (scum) or from "raspe" (coppice). The old Flemish ‘raspe’ (planing, rasping) refers to the traditional coppice management in this forest. Every twelve to eighteen years, old stumps of trees and shrubs are cut down to the ground. New shoots shoot out of this, which continue to grow until the next felling. Numerous springs originate in the forest. A chapel, 't Juffrouwke, was built at one of these springs because the water was said to help with toothache.
During the uprising of the people of Ghent in the 14th century at the time of Jacob and Filips van Artevelde, the rebels found support among some farmers from the region of Geraardsbergen and Ronse. The farmers were chased from their farms and found shelter in the Raspaille forest. This is how a gang of robbers came into being who made numerous raids from the forest in the castellany of Ath, Lessines and Vloesberg. Jan de Lichte and his gang are also said to have stayed here on several occasions. According to some sources, the forest owes its name to these villainous stories. The words ‘Raspeel’, ‘Rapaille’ and ‘Raplage’ all refer to ‘scum’.