라밀리‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪11‬개의 천연기념물

The Henri Fontaine stream rises between Cras-Avernas and Bertrée, then irrigates several villages in the commune of Hannut before crossing the reserve at Grand-Hallet. Its source has long been linked to watercress cultivation, which requires good quality water.

This marshy area of 21 hectares was already inhabited in prehistoric times and buildings were built in Roman times. Today there is a water pumping station and watercress beds are still in use. The area includes part of the valley of the Henri-Fontaine stream with flora that can no longer be found in the rest of the area. Damp meadows, dense reed land and tall perennial herbaceous plants of 1.5 to 2 meters high, located in alluvial zones on non-acidic and fairly moist soil with pieces of forest with trees that do well on wet soils, such as alders: these are remnants of the typical wet valleys that you often saw before agriculture became increasingly intensive. You cannot enter the nature reserve itself but you can see it quite well and at a certain point (if you follow the path next to it) you come to a beautiful piece of alluvial forest with the stream. Be sure to also walk to the Moulin Dardenne, which is located on the edge of the area on another road and location with the nature reserve behind it and streams that come out of the nature reserve. This is also the start of the path along the nature reserve. On the other side you will also find a start of the path - with information board - at a junction with the Rue du Condroz in Grand-Hallet. You will find it just before the bend behind which the Dardenne watermill is located. Turn left, it rises a little and then you are on the path. More on https://www.hannut.be/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/brochure-7-fontaines-nl.pdf where you will find a full description of a 'seven-sources walk' that of course runs along the nature reserve and many sights around it.

This path, which you reach after a short, steep climb from the stream, leads you along an inaccessible nature reserve, where you literally walk above an old quarry and caves for a part. At a certain point you literally walk above the entrance to that underground quarry that you can also see below. Part of the path runs between the edge of the valley and fields and on another part you have the nature reserve instead of the fields that was given the name 'Réserve naturelle Natagora des Caves Paheau'. Natagora is the counterpart of Natuurpunt and the quarry and caves are therefore called the 'caves Paheau'.

Beautiful long sunken road👏👏

nice to walk through it

A sunken road is a road that is so deeply worn that it lies between two slopes. It is the result of centuries of use and erosion. The most beautiful sunken roads can be found especially in hilly areas with a subsoil that easily forms steep walls, such as in Haspengouw and Hageland.

The Sept Fontaines nature reserve extends in Hannut on a part of the valley where the Henri-Fontaine flows, where many vegetation elements have disappeared, also on other territories municipalities. Stagnant water, a gently sloping river, dry reed beds, ruderal scrub, alluvial alder-ash forests, alluvial meadows... all bear witness to what could be observed less than a century ago in most valley bottoms, before the significant intensification of land use. The site is part of the main ecological structure of Hannut, as a core area.

Beautiful hollow path, apparently very old. It is certainly not the longest, but it is certainly worth it. Especially in the greener months.