Discover Mont-Saint-Aubert

Mont-Saint-Aubert combines wide-open countryside, a distinctive elevated location and paths with literary and historical connections. The area belongs to the Parc naturel des Plaines de l’Escaut and is also the highest point of the hills of Tournai. Those planning a trip with walks, views and cultural discoveries will find various options for structuring their days.

Landscape and views around the summit

There is a new viewpoint at the summit of Mont-Saint-Aubert offering panoramic views. The Marche à Bâton also opens up views of Tournai and the surrounding countryside. Another special vantage point is the memorial site “À tire d’âme”. It is dedicated to those who died during the COVID-19 pandemic and looks out over a wide landscape with the local hills, the city and the extensive quarries of Gaurain-Ramecroix.

These various viewing experiences give a clear focus to your stay: you can spend a day at the summit and on the slopes, or combine the landscape with a longer hike. The surroundings can be discovered not only as a natural setting, but also as a place with visible traces of human memory and history.

Walking trails with a literary character

The Chemin des Poètes invites walkers to pause in the landscape of Mont-Saint-Aubert. On the Sentier des Poètes, quotations from regional writers are engraved in around fifty blue stones. This gives the walk a cultural dimension without allowing the landscape to fade into the background.

The Balade des poètes du soleil levant follows paths that run along the slopes of Mont-Saint-Aubert. As a designated walking route, it is 7.8 kilometres long. Those who like to include a specific route in their planning can take this distance into account when choosing their day’s programme. For another hiking idea, the circular walk “À travers sentiers et chemins de terre” starts at the Parking du Mont-Saint-Aubert.

History, remembrance and routes

Historical connections are also part of the local scenery. Villa Simone was built for the Countess d’Hespel between 1900 and 1920. The Jardin des Poètes was inaugurated in 1971. Traces of pilgrimage on the slopes of Mont-Saint-Aubert can also be traced back to the 14th century. In this way, literary memorial sites, older route traditions and today’s landscape come together when exploring the area.

On Easter Monday, the Marche à Bâton takes walkers to the summit of Mont-Saint-Aubert. For cyclists, the 24-kilometre route “Des bâtons dans les roues” passes through Mont-Saint-Aubert. This allows you to choose between a literary-themed walk, a hike with the summit as its destination and a cycling tour. Which accommodation and location best suit your trip depends primarily on whether views, hiking, cycling or cultural discoveries are to be the main focus.

Further places for planning your trip

If you would like to consider other places in this hierarchical section in addition to Mont-Saint-Aubert, you can also include Blandain, Kain and Marquain in your search.

Mont-Saint-Aubert is therefore particularly suitable for travellers who do not want to limit their days to a single activity. Viewpoints, walking trails, a 7.8-kilometre poetic route, a 24-kilometre cycling route and historical points of connection offer different ways to experience the landscape. You can choose a holiday apartment or other accommodation to match the experience that is to define your trip.

To the higher-level travel overview: Tournai.