The best cycling routes around Estaimpuis

Cathedral on the market square Tournai

Super nice when there are no others to be seen. And doubly pleasant when you have the wind at your back.

A nice climb nearby and with breathtaking views.

The church is located at the end of the Grote Markt and undoubtedly has its origins in the large Gallo-Roman cemetery that stretched over the site of the Grote Markt and an adjacent district. The nave dates from the end of the 12th century. Two round chapels, one of which houses the tomb of Jacques Castaigne (1327), are housed in the corners formed by the nave and the transept. The transept and the choir, with their ribbed vaults, belong to the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic periods. The central tower also dates from the 13th century. It is decorated inside with a double triforium. The choir, surrounded by a 17th-century marble enclosure, was surrounded in 1464 by an ambulatory and several chapels. At the ends of the nave, you can admire two statues forming the so-called Annunciation group, namely the Virgin and the Archangel Gabriel. The statues were made by Jean Delemer, a sculptor from Tournai. They are made of white stone from Avesnes and the original polychromy is attributed to Robert Campin. The organ with 36 registers was made by Georges Delmotte in 1986. Source: openchurches.eu

The belfry of Tournai is the oldest in Belgium (12th century). The building, which is part of UNESCO World Heritage, is 72 meters high and dominates the Grand-Place. During the ascent of the tower with its 257 steps, one discovers various didactic exhibitions, the prison, the carillonneur's room, and finally the bells which ring every Sunday during the summer (around 3:30 PM). The belfry of Tournai, built in 1192, symbolizes municipal freedoms. Its bell (the “Bancloque”) was used to warn the population of trials, executions, invasions, fires, etc. The belfry served as a watchtower, prison, bell tower, and town hall. You have access to the first terrace, which offers a breathtaking view of Tournai and its surroundings. source: visitwapi.be

The Roubaix indoor velodrome, located next to the legendary Vélodrome André Pétrieux, is officially called the Jean-Stablinski Regional Indoor Velodrome, also known as "Le Stab." The velodrome was built between 2010 and 2012. It is named after Jean Stablinski, a French cyclist who became the world road race champion in 1962. Source: Wikipedia

Until 1983, the last 300 meters of line 271 000, Roubaix-Wattrelos, ran here. At the other end, it connected to Belgian line 85 to Leupegem, Oudenaarde. The only 3.6 km long and never electrified line 271 000 no longer carried passenger trains after 1932.

The Canal de Roubaix connects the Deûle River to the Scheldt via the Espierres Canal. Plans for this canal date back to 1821, and it was deemed necessary to supply water and coal to the rapidly developing textile industries in Roubaix and Tourcoing. The first section of the canal begins at the Deûle and includes the canalization of part of the Marque River. This section opened in 1831. The connection from Roubaix to the Belgian-French border was also completed in 1843. The section through Belgium to the Scheldt, the Espierres Canal, was also opened at that time. A watershed existed between the two sections of the canal (between the Lys and the Scheldt), and a tunnel was planned, but this led to difficulties and delays. Therefore, an alternative route was chosen further north, also serving Tourcoing. This more northerly section opened in 1877. A branch of this section of the canal is the Canal de Tourcoing. This was completed in 1893. In 1985, the canal was closed due to dilapidated infrastructure. However, it was restored as an industrial heritage site and reopened to shipping in 2010. The canal is 20 km long and has 12 locks. Source: Wikipedia