For cycle-racing enthusiasts the name Geraardsbergen is inextricably linked with the 'Muur' (Mur de Grammont in French), a steep cobbled rise that frequently forms a major highlight of the Tour of Flanders, depending on the route chosen each year. Topped by a beautiful chapel and offering wonderful views, the Muur is well signposted from the Markt and best approached on foot or by bike from Abdijstraat.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb
20.52 MILES
Art enthusiasts swarm the Sint-Baafskathedraal to glimpse The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (De Aanbidding van het Lams God), a lavish representation of…
21.23 MILES
This 1899 former department store is an art nouveau showpiece with a black facade aswirl with wrought iron and arched windows. The building contains the…
21.01 MILES
Brussels’ magnificent Grand Place is one of the world’s most unforgettable urban ensembles. Oddly hidden, the enclosed cobblestone square is only revealed…
21.22 MILES
Strap on a pair of headphones, then step on the automated floor panels in front of the precious instruments (including world instruments and Adolphe Sax’s…
20.8 MILES
The typically austere exterior doesn’t give much away, but Victor Horta’s former home (designed and built 1898–1901) is an art nouveau jewel. The…
20.39 MILES
One of Brussels’ overlooked architectural wonders, this splendid Napoleon III–style palace
12.89 MILES
Set on the grounds of a former Cistercian Abbey, this 65-hectare park is home to more than 5000 animals (including pandas, koalas, gorillas and lemurs)…
24.74 MILES
Dominating Tournai’s skyline are the five spires of its remarkable cathedral, which survived WWII bombs only for a freak 1999 tornado to compromise its…
Nearby Northwest Belgium attractions
1. Kapel van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Oudenberg
0.19 MILES
It's believed there has been a place of worship at this site atop the Muur since 1294, although this quaint, domed-roof neo-baroque chapel was constructed…
0.23 MILES
Combining the local tourist office and the former Manneken-Pismuseum, this compact museum has a variety of multimedia introductions to the trades and…
0.23 MILES
Brussels isn't the only city in which a little boy statue relieves himself. Indeed, many locals insist that Geraardsbergen's Manneken Pis is the original…
0.47 MILES
This simple, sweetly old-fashioned museum has no one distinct theme but features rooms with small collections of artefacts as diverse as matchboxes,…
5. Hôpital Notre-Dame à la Rose
4.87 MILES
Founded in 1242, this is Belgium’s only medieval convent-farm-hospital complex to have survived reasonably intact. Laboriously restored, it demonstrates…
8.8 MILES
Originally set out in the 17th century by the dukes of Arenberg, the Parc d’Enghien incorporates vast stands of woodland, fountains, statues, a tiny …
11.02 MILES
A fascinating place to learn about the region's Roman roots, with audiovisual displays and a collection of objects from the distant past. Among the…
11.21 MILES
If you miss the giants' festival, you can learn more at the Maison des Géants, in a grand old mansion opposite the castle-style tower of Église St-Julien…