Geraardsbergen is a city in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The city is located in the Dender region, on the Dender and against the Oudenberg. In the world of cyclists, the city is notorious for the steep and bumpy slope of the Wall of Geraardsbergen. The city is also known for its matt cake. The annual Festival of Pretzels and Tonnekens Fire has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Just outside Geraardsbergen you pass the provincial domain De Gavers (RP 3). The domain is located around a 20-hectare pond. It offers space for walking or cycling, and it has a beach and a sports and leisure complex and some terraces and cafeterias. In addition, there are also a camping site, hiker's huts, bungalows and a youth hostel.

In the vast landscape around Vollezele you pass the artwork in sheet steel by Koenraad Tinel 'The kidnapping of Europe' (RP 6). The Phoenician princess Europa is represented as an ancient Venus figure. She is sitting on the back of a running bull to depict the god Zeus. The statue, eight meters high and almost nine meters long, comes into its own here in the barren meadow.

If you want to relax for a coffee or a drink, this is possible in Café De Vrede in Gooik (RP 13).

The ride continues along the Castle of Gaasbeek (RP 16) - The Castle of Gaasbeek is an original medieval castle, now a national museum, located in Gaasbeek, a part of Lennik.
The castle is surrounded by 50 hectares of walking park and forest. It contains several historic buildings. To the east of the castle is an oval, brick tea house with sandstone frames on a slope. The domain also includes three large ponds. In the valley, near the ponds, there is a baroque Saint Gertrude chapel (protected building). Some of the trees in the park are more than three hundred years old. Open from April to August. Mon: Closed. Tue - Sun: 10am - 6pm. Open on public holidays. Entry price: 10 euros.

A few kilometers further you arrive at the Castle of Dilbeek (RP 22) - The castle de Viron in Dilbeek is a protected monument that was built in 1862 for the de Viron family. In 1923 the municipality bought the castle and it was used as a town hall. Today the castle mainly has a ceremonial function. Only to be visited with a guide.
You are now approaching the capital Brussels, the habitation is getting more intense, but you also continue to drive along smaller roads as much as possible, which is also not so bad for traffic.

A little further you come back into an open landscape. On the Puttenberg in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw is the 'Boom van Witse' (RP 26) - a summer lime tree - from the TV series of the same name. The tree combines the rural of the Pajottenland with the urban of the big city.
As a result of the series, the tree has become a tourist attraction for the region. In 2010, the Witseboom, together with the 28-meter area around the tree, was protected as a monument because of its artistic, socio-cultural, historical and folkloric value.

If you want to take a break to have a drink, you can do so in Brasserie In 't Vagevuur (RP 28). A little further you also have a nice view of Brussels (RP 29).

Two more castles await you, the next of which is the Castle of Coloma (RP 30). The Domain Coloma is a park and castle domain in the Belgian municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. On the domain are the castle of Coloma and the rose garden. The rose garden is of absolute world level. That is undoubtedly the domain's greatest asset. More than 3,000 different rose varieties from all over the world grow here. The rose garden is open all year round from Tuesday to Sunday from sunrise to sunset. Also on public holidays. The recommended visit period is from June to early October.

You cross the Ring (RO) of Brussels and arrive at the last castle along this ride, namely the Castle of Beersel (RP 31). The castle of Beersel, a moated castle, is one of the few, well-preserved examples of medieval martial architecture in our country. It is still there as it looked at the end of the 15th century. Over the centuries, this airlock had a very eventful history. As a visitor you immediately experience how people lived in a medieval, fortified castle. In 1999, the municipal council of Beersel took over the management of the castle. The castle has been renovated in several phases since 2003.
Beersel Castle can usually be visited from Tuesday to Sunday. The castle is closed during the winter months, December, January and February. In March and November: only open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm

Just like the Pajottenland, the Zenne valley you now cross has a lot to offer: the typical, the unique lambic beers. It is also part of the Green Belt and is located between Brussels and the language border.
Today it is best known for its regional product Lambiek (beer) and the derived drinks Faro, Kriek and especially Geuze.
The brewing of lambic differs from the brewing of other beers by the use of wild mixed yeasts. The environment plays an essential role. Lambic brewers, unlike other brewers, do not themselves add yeast to their brew. During a cold winter night they spontaneously let the wort 'graft' by micro-organisms that are in the air of the Zenne Valley and the Pajottenland.

In Quenast you drive past a quarry (RP 39). This quarry is the largest open-air quarry in Europe with an area of 140 hectares, and in some places a depth of 125 m. Porphyry has been mined here since the 17th century. The rock that is mined is very hard and traditionally served to make the famous Belgian cobblestones.
Visits by reservation only - Groups of 10 to 40 people. - For the classic visit: € 1 / pers. with a flat rate of € 10 (- of 10 people). For the long visit: € 2.50 / pers. with a flat rate of € 20 (- of 8 people). Duration: Minimum1: 00 - Maximum1: 30

When you cross the A8 motorway you will return to the Flemish Ardennes. About 15 km and you are back in Geraardsbergen.

The gently sloping landscape of the Pajottenland and the Senne Valley determines the character of the region. Nature, landscape, agriculture, heritage and culture go together intensely here. You can discover all this in this ride along winding quiet roads. That is why this route is definitely worth 4 stars.