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220 Route 18. CHIMAY. From Ghent
(T/2 M.) Chdtelet (see below); and to Jumet. — From Montigny-le-Tilleul
(p. 219) an excursion may be made to Landelies and the Abbey of Aulne
(13-15th cent.; destroyed in 1794), returning from Landelies by railway.
From CHARLEROI To VIREUX, 40!/2 M., railway in 2 hrs. (fares 6 fr. 20,
4 fr. 20, 2 fr. 50c.). From (12!/2 M.) Berzée branch-lines diverge to Thuil-
lies (see pp. 213, 219) and to ZLanegfe. — From (14 M.) Walcourt (Rail.
Restaurant), which contains an ancient Gothic pilgrimage-church, two
others diverge — one via St. Lambert to Philippeville (HOt. Meurant), a
former fortress, and Florennes (Station du Sud), the other to Morialmé via
Fraire. — Another branch-line to Philippeville diverges at Senzeille. —
From (29 M.) Mariembourg (Hétel du Commerce) a branch-railway (31/2 M.)
leads to the ancient and picturesque little town of Couvin (H6t. du Chemin-
de-Fer, 17 R. at 2, B. 3/s, D. 21/4 fr., well spoken of), built at the foot of
a perpendicular cliff in the valley of the Hau Noire. From Couvin a light
railway runs to (10 M.) Petite-Chapelle (see below) and crosses the French
frontier to Le Tremblois. Mariembourg is the junction of a line from
Hastiére to Paris vid Anor and Laon, on which, beyond the Lake of
Virelles, is (10 M.) Chimay (H6t. de P Univers, 20 BR. at 21/2, B. 4, D. 21/2 fr.),
a town with 3000 inhab., where the beautiful park and chateau of the
prince of that name are situated (no admission). Old church. A statue
of Froissart, the chronicler, who died at Chimay in 140}, has been erected
in front of the Hétel de ’Univers. A light railway runs from Chimay to
Cul-des-Saris and Petite Chapelle (see above). Among the hills of Scormont,
6M. to the S., is a model farm belonging to the monastery of La Trappe
(mo ladies admitted).
32 M. Wismes (Grand-Hétel, R. 41/2, B. 1, D. 2l/2 fr.) is the next station
on the line to Vireux. Near the station is the striking Roche & Lomme.
[A pleasant walk may be taken hence in the valley of the Viroin to (2 hrs.)
Olloy (see below). On a steep rock near Dourbes (505 ft.; Au Lion Belge)
is the ruin of *Haute Roche, destroyed by Henry II. in 1554; fine rock-
scenery.] — Then Olloy (see above) and Vierves, with a castellated chateau.
— 401/2 M. Vireux, the French frontier-station, with a Gothic church, lies
on the Meuse. Thence via Givet (p. 228) and Rheims to Paris, see Baedeker’s
Northern France.
Charleroi-Erquelinnes- Paris, 168M., express in 33/4-A1/2 hrs., see Baedeker’s
Noriere France. — From Charleroi to Ottignies, Wavre, and Louvain, see
R. 25.
Beyond Charleroi the Namur train crosses the Philippeville road,
and passes the numerous foundries and factories of Marcinelle,
(69 M.) Couillet (branch-line to Jamioulx), and —
71 M. Chatelineau, the junction of the lines to Flewrus (p. 244)
and to Jumet-Brillotte (p. 158), and for a steam-tramway to Char-
leroi (see above). In the church of St. Barthélemy is a handsome
tomb of the Mérode family. Chatelineau is the station also for the
busy little town of Chdtelet (HOt. Bertrand, R. 11/2, D. 2 fr.), with
13,000 inhab., on the opposite (right) bank of the Sambre.
From CHATELINEAU To GiveT, 31M., railway in 2 hrs. (fares 4 fr. 70,
3 fr. 20, 4 fr. 90 c.). — This line traverses a busy manufacturing and
mining district, via Bouffioulx (once famous for its pottery), Acoz (branch-
line to Mettet, see p. 224), Gerpinnes (with a Roman villa; in the church of
St. Nicholas the fine Renaissance reliquary of Ste. Rolande), Ovet, Pavillons
(Stave), etc. From Florennes (see above; Gare de l'Est) a branch-line runs
to (7 M.) Ermeton-sur'- Bier! (p. 221) and a light railway to (15 M.) Dinant
(p. 226). — Doische (also on the line from Hastiére to Lavaux and Chimay)
is the last Belgian, Givet (p. 228) the first French station (customs-exami-
nation).
The Sambre winds through beautiful grassy valleys, sometimes
skirting wooded hills. 73 M. Le Campinaire; 731/. M. Farciennes, |