The best traffic-free bike rides around Habay

The forest landscape in this region is very beautiful in summer, and the view of the Anlier forest and the nature reserve in the valley is highly recommended. The route there is suitable for road bikes.

This very beautiful climb takes you through the undergrowth of the Anlier forest. This is the guarantee of always finding shade and freshness.

The Rulles river widens and sometimes transforms into artificial ponds. This body of water was used by the inhabitants of Habay-la-Neuve to store fish.

The Mellier forges are a historic site in Belgium which highlights the industrial heritage of the region. They were built in 1617 by François de Gorzée and Pierre Goens, who wanted to exploit the region's natural resources: water, wood and iron ore. Forges produced high-quality metal products until the early 19th century, when they could not compete with new technologies in the coal and coke industries. The site was then used as a sawmill until the 20th century, when it was abandoned and left to fall into disrepair. Today, the Mellier forges are a protected monument and part of Wallonia's exceptional heritage. You can visit the remains of the buildings, such as the coal hall, lime kilns, dam bridge and ore hall, and learn about the history and techniques of the metalworkers. The site is also surrounded by a beautiful forest, where you can hike along the Mellier River.

The origin of the village is not known, but the following legend circulates. "In those very ancient times, Rulles, which was very fishy, attracted many families of fishermen to come and settle on its banks, where they lived in common from the product of their work. A quarrel having arisen between them, they separated and formed the two neighboring localities: Orsinfaing and Harinsart."

Habay-la-Neuve was an important center for forges in the 18th century. Habay and the neighboring municipalities have kept romantic castles and ponds which follow one another along the Rulles. This combination of water and forest characterizes this region where the savagery of a still intact nature rubs shoulders with the cordial welcome of its inhabitants. The Château du Pont d'Oye, cultural meeting centre, the tomb of the writer and statesman Pierre Nothomb, the chapel of Notre-Dame de Grâces, the church of Saint-Nicolas, the chapel of Bonhomme, the forest of 'Anlier with an area of 5,500 ha, the Forge du Prince waterfall... a few small wonders to see among many others.

Charming hamlet, Nantimont and its surroundings have been occupied since the first century of our era. Traces were found along the Etalle road at a place called "le trou au sable" in 1876. But more recently, it was in Mageroy that a Gallo-Roman villa was discovered. Occupied between the 1st and the 4th century, it is still being excavated. It will be necessary to wait until 1317 to find the first mention of Nantimont in a text. The latter explains that Messire Jean du Châtelet receives various fiefs from the counts of Chiny to reward his services. In the 17th century, a document provides us with other interesting information: the hamlet has 12 households, belongs to the provostship of Etalle and to the parish of Etalle. In 1672, Nantimont was set up as a Lordship with high, medium and low justice and a certain communal autonomy for the inhabitants who could finally elect their mayor and their aldermen. In the middle of the 18th century, the seigniory was bought by the governor, who then resold it to the abbey of Orval in 1758. At that time, Nantimont had 9 houses, 16 laborers (women and children not being counted ). In 1823, Nantimont was separated from Etalle to be attached to the parish and the community of Habay-la-Vieille. Since then, Nantimont and Habay-la-Vieille have experienced a similar fate. Although the section often suffered from its remoteness, it is today a village breathing the tranquility of the Gaume countryside.

Formerly, in the 16th century, Habay-la-Vieille lived from the work of the forge. Nestled in the forest of Anlier, the village was part of the former county of Chiny then of the duchy of Luxemnourg. Today you can visit an exceptional vestige, the Gallo-Roman villa of Mageroy. Its history takes the curious back to between the 1st and 4th centuries.