You join the Chevauchée route in the Pays des Lacs region starting from the French border in Brûly. After a few metres, you are immersed in the Ardennes forest, which is the true green lung of the Walloon region, and the heart of an ecosystem inhabited by various wild species and an incredible biodiversity. After this gentle forest stretch lasting around eight kilometres, you reach the refreshing village of Oignies-en-Thiérache, which is known for its slate quarries and pretty stone houses. Did you know that this town was the geographical centre of the European Union until its expansion in 2004? Once you pass through, you are immersed in the lush forest once more.