Home
What to do
Articles
The HENRIETTE Project – A New Hiking Experience in Hainaut

The HENRIETTE Project – A New Hiking Experience in Hainaut

Hainaut is a unique region, straddling the border between Belgium and France, with a shared natural, historical, and cultural heritage. To boost tourism and strengthen ties between these territories, the Interreg HENRIETTE project was launched in June 2024. Its development will span four years, until June 2028, to create a cross-border hiking network accessible to all.

A cross-border hiking network

What if you could easily create your own hiking route? Thanks to the HENRIETTE project, a network of waymarked node-to-node trails is being developed in the region of Mons, within the territory of the Nature Park of Les Hauts-Pays - offering a new way to explore the region on foot.

What exactly is a Node-to-Node Network?

Inspired by the famous node-to-node bike network, this system allows you to hike freely. At each intersection, numbered markers show the direction to follow, giving you the choice between thematic routes or customized trails. No need for complex maps—just note the numbers of the nodes and let yourself be guided! By developing this walking network, the HENRIETTE project makes hiking more accessible, intuitive, and connected to nature and local heritage. Get ready for new adventures on foot between Belgium and France!

HENRIETTE aims to create a vast recreational and natural area by :

> enhancing 5 cross-border pedestrian node-to-node networks for marked and connected routes.
> developing 6 themed walking trails to explore the region from different perspectives.
> providing a network linking several key cities such as: Cambrai, Mons, Tournai, Fourmies, Douai, and Philippeville.

This ambitious project is also part of a sustainable mobility approach, highlighting natural and heritage areas while promoting sustainable tourism.

A collaboration for dynamic and innovative tourism

To ensure the success of the project, several stakeholders are working together :

> Local committees and steering groups to develop and enhance 11 natural areas in both Belgium and France.
> Harmonized signage and activities to make the trails more attractive.
> Immersive experiences and micro-adventures, showcasing the history and testimonies of local residents.

A focus on Mons-Borinage and the Nature Park of Les Hauts-Pays

The Nature Park of Les Hauts-Pays plays a central role in this project, with a network extending towards the Avesnois Regional Nature Park in France. The sections will pass through the six Walloon municipalities : Quiévrain, Honnelles, Dour, Colfontaine, Frameries and Quévy.

The Tourism House of the Mons Region plays a key role in the development of the project by ensuring:

> The design of welcome and service facilities
> The installation of artistic installations along the trails
> The promotion of a cross-border tourism offer

By closely collaborating with Walloon and French operators, HENRIETTE helps strengthen the region’s attractiveness, while focusing on sustainable tourism and environmental respect.
An invitation to (re)discover Hainaut in a different way, through the trails and landscapes that define its identity!