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Below is information on the popular public parks, woods and green spaces in and around Brussels city that are open to walkers, cyclists and runners. There are also facilities around Brussels for more intense outdoor activities: hiking and walking, cycling and mountain biking, rock climbing as well as some river water sports. To many people Brussels is a city of history and culture, but the city still has plenty of outdoor activities for all ages with more green areas than the other major European cities. The Tourism Office of Wallonia-Brussels publishes a brochure called Brussels Escapades, which groups the various activities offered in the city according to the seasons or areas of interest.
Popular AttractionsLots of useful local information can be found on the main tourist websites.
Brussels cityWithin the city itself there are plenty of parks and the local tourist office organises guided walks, many with a theme.
Water trips are also popular in the city itself and information on the various day trips by boat can be found on the Brussels by Water website. Brupark/OceadeUndoubtedly one of Brussels' most popular family attractions, Bruparck is located on the outskirts of the city, at Heysel, easily accessible by public transport and road links. It is a massive attraction park and includes the Océade water park.
Bois de la Cambre and Terkamaren WoodsThe Bois de la Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos is better known as the Central Park of Brussels. Nearly 125 hectares of forests, fields, ponds, and paths that cater for most outdoor activities including walking, horse riding and cycling. It is popular with runners and joggers and hosts a major running event each year. Fôret de SoignesJust outside the city is the Fôret de Soignes which stretches over the three Belgian regions. There are various forest centres for walking, cycling and gentle exercise as well as the Centre Sportif de la Fôret de Soignes, which has mainstream facilities and an indoor climbing wall.
Ardennes RegionEasily accessible from the city, this area is good for outdoor activities including walking, hiking, climbing and riding. Information is available on the main tourist sites as well as on the Ardennes/Namur tourist website. Outdoor Activities in BrusselsHiking/WalkingRando, Promenades en campagne/Het wandelen, Lopend en dwalend Local tourist offices have maps and guides for many walking and cycling routes. The Brussels City website has details of guided and themed walks. There is a network of walking and cycling routes known as RAVeL (Réseau Autonome de Voies Lentes) which cover much of the country. They are exclusively for the use of ramblers, cyclists, and in some cases horse riders. They follow old canal embankments and disused railway tracks in Wallonia.
Initiated in 1995 by 10 local councils, the TARPAN network has similar objectives to the RAVeL project (that is, the use of abandoned paths and rail tracks for the benefit of hikers, cyclists, mountain bikers, long distance runners and horse riders). The main difference is that the Tarpan paths are rougher and more suitable to mountain bikes and serious walkers. There are four principal routes and maps at all departure points indicate the various paths and their length. Accommodation and refreshments are located throughout the network.
The official rambling and walking associations in Belgium have more information on their sites. Both are members of the European Ramblers Association.
There are other smaller rambling and hiking associations such as Schampavie Trekkersgroep which welcome new members. Cycling & Mountain Biking(Cyclisme, Vélo, Vélo Tout Terrain – VTT/Fietsen, Mountainbike Brussels city tends to be very busy and is not perhaps the best place to travel on two wheels. However, there are parks (mentioned above) where cyclists can exercise in relative peace and safety.
Just outside the city there are lots of routes too. The Fôret de Soignes has some good routes for mountain biking fans. Bikes can be carried on the metro, tram and train either free of charge or for a small fee, although it is recommended not to travel on public transport during rush hour. Many train stations also have the facility to rent a bike. Cycling is possible on the RAVel network, detailed maps of the RAVeL routes can be bought from the Ministry of Transport website. The Brussels cycling website, Cycling in Brussels has information for cyclists in the region including maps to download, general rules of the road, information on tandem tours for the partially sighted and transport information.
For mountain biking enthusiasts there is a Belgian mountain biking website (in Dutch) The Cycling Federation of Wallonia and Brussels (Fédération Cycliste Wallonie- Bruxelles) has information for cyclists and mountain bikers and has a list of clubs in the region. Provélo is an association in Wallonia and Brussels that promotes the use of bicycles for work and leisure. It organises many activities including cycling proficiency training, guided tours, all year round bicycle rental and events. ClimbingEscalade/Wieg klimmen Belgium has over 50 indoor and outdoor climbing centres. There are plenty of crags and other rocky sites for beginners and more experienced climbers. The Belgian Climbing Network has information on where to climb in the Brussels area and throughout the country. Addresses are given for many of the country's climbing centres on their website. Water SportsBelgium is a good place to go canoeing or kayaking, with guided tours and lessons catering for any level of skill. Most activities take place outside of the Brussels area on the main rivers – the Ambleve, the Ourthe, the Semois and the Lesse.
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