Rouge-Cloître to Etangs de Boitsfort

The Rouge-Cloître to Etangs de Boitsfort walk is a 7 km woodland route in the south-east of the Brussels-Capital Region, linking the former Rouge-Cloître priory in Auderghem with the ponds of Boitsfort at the edge of the Sonian Forest in Belgium. The trailhead is at Rouge-Cloître Abbey, Rue du Rouge-Cloître 4, 1160 Auderghem. Transit visitors take metro line 5 to Hermann-Debroux and then either bus 72 or a walk of about fifteen minutes; there is no permit requirement and no entry fee for the paths. The route is easy, with about 70 m of total ascent, and takes around two hours at a relaxed pace. Surfaces are mostly dirt and gravel forest tracks with some root-covered and occasionally muddy stretches, so waterproof or sturdy walking shoes are useful. There is no exposure, and tree cover provides plenty of shade in summer. The first landmark is the Rouge-Cloître site itself, where the remains of a 14th-century Augustinian priory sit beside a chain of ponds that were once used for fish farming. The path continues through beech and mixed woodland on the fringe of the Sonian Forest before reaching the Etangs de Boitsfort, where water, reeds and birdlife shape the scenery. Walkers who want a shorter outing can turn back after the priory ponds, while those with more time can continue past the Boitsfort ponds along other forest paths. Water is not drawn from natural sources, so walkers bring their own; there are no refuge huts, though the abbey grounds have an art centre and cafe facilities that may be open seasonally. Several benches along the ponds suit a short rest. The area is popular with local families, dog walkers and joggers, and quiet during weekday mornings.