Muur van Geraardsbergen

The Muur, or Kapelmuur, is a cobbled street climbing out of Geraardsbergen to the chapel of Our Lady of the Oudenberg on the hill above, about a kilometre long with an average gradient near ten percent and a maximum around twenty on the steepest cobbles near the top. It is the best known climb in Belgian cycling: for decades it decided the Tour of Flanders, and although the race route has changed several times the hill has kept its status, with amateur cyclists riding it year round and a constant traffic of people walking up to see what the fuss is about. The cobbles are original and rough. From the chapel there is a view over the Dender valley and the Flemish Ardennes.

What you actually see

• Rough original cobbles - the surface that makes the climb what it is.
• Gradients to twenty percent - the steepest section near the chapel.
• The Oudenberg chapel - the building at the top of the climb.
• The Dender valley view - the Flemish Ardennes from the summit.

When to go

April to October for riding; the hill is open at all times and free. One to two hours. The Tour of Flanders in early April brings enormous crowds. Weekends are busy with amateur cyclists.

Honest expectations

It is a street, and without an interest in cycling there is very little here beyond a view and a chapel. The cobbles are genuinely rough and dangerous when wet. It is a public road with traffic. Parking in the town is limited.

Nearby

Geraardsbergen town is below; Oudenaarde lies west.