Maubeuge / Liessies
You may find it hard to leave the intriguing maze formed by Vauban’s amazing ramparts at Maubeuge, but the appealing Avesnois area will make you want to continue your cycling adventure. The greenway, leaving Maubeuge, presents a mix of industrial vestiges, hedgerow-divided fields and forests. As there are many picnic corners along the way, it’s easy to pause to recharge your batteries, or then look in at the Musée du Verre, a glass museum at Sars-Poteries. Those interested might also visit the Musée de la Faïence et de la Poterie in Ferrière-la-Grande. Reaching Lissies, it’s time for a stopover… enjoying a dinner featuring tasty local Maroilles cheese, of course!
Gradients and elevation
Slope breakdown
Road types
- Cycle path
- Routes reserved for cyclists and pedestrians (greenways, cycle tracks, towpaths), separated from cars for maximum safety.
- Shared road
- Quiet minor roads with little traffic (unless otherwise stated in the stage details). Shared with cars (stay alert).
- Not specified
- Data unavailable or being assessed. Please refer to the detailed stage description.
- Provisional
- Section on a road or cycle path awaiting better-quality facilities (see stage details).
Surface
- Smooth
- Asphalt, tarmac or smooth concrete. Optimal comfort.
- Rough
- Fine gravel, compacted stabilised surface or worn tarmac. Less comfortable, vibrations possible.
- Natural
- Dirt, grass, roots or stones. Under 5%: short sections with little impact. Higher percentage: route suited to mountain or gravel bikes only.
- Not specified
- Data unavailable or being assessed. Please refer to the detailed stage description.
The route
Minor roads up to Ferrière-la-Grande, then a greenway (being resurfaced at time of writing). No particular difficulties on this stage.
Signposted EV3.
Surfaces smooth: compacted tracks or asphalt.
Link
With the V31, the Véloroute de la Sambre, a cycle route along the Sambre Valley and through the Pays de Mormal area.
Trains
- Maubeuge train station
Don't miss
- Ferrière la Petite and Solre le Château : the forested ravines
- Ferrière la Petite : le Musée de la cour des potiers (a pottery museum)
- the village de Lez Fontaine
- Sars-Poteries : contemporary glass art at MusVerre
- Solre le Château : the church with its leaning spire
- Liessies : the village and the abbey grounds
- At 6 km from the Voie Verte de l'Avesnois towards Liessies, you will find the station touristique ValJoly (ValJoly tourist Resort) which offers different activities and accommodation solutions: campsites and cottages.
