Oudenaarde and the Flemish Ardennes

Oudenaarde sits on the river Scheldt in East Flanders, in Belgium's Flemish Region, about 30 km south of Ghent, and is the heart of the Flemish Ardennes, a region of short steep hills and cobbled climbs. SNCB trains from Ghent-Sint-Pieters reach Oudenaarde railway station on Stationsplein in 25 to 30 minutes, and the train is the recommended way to arrive. The town centre is a walk of about 10 minutes from the station. The Renaissance-style town hall on the Markt, with its Gothic-Brabant lacework facade and a belfry topped by a figure of Hanske de Krijger, is the town's landmark. Beside the Scheldt, the Centre Ronde van Vlaanderen is a museum dedicated to the Tour of Flanders cycling race, with interactive displays, a cafe and bike hire, and entry costs about €10 to €14. Many visitors rent bikes there to ride parts of the Tour of Flanders route, including the climbs of the Koppenberg, Kwaremont and Paterberg, which are only a short way from town. Those who prefer not to cycle can use De Lijn buses to reach the Kluisbos hills and the Kwaremont. A day can begin with the town hall and Markt in the morning, followed by the cycling museum and a coffee on site. Lunch suits the cafes around the Markt, where local beers such as Liefmans, brewed in the area, appear on menus. The afternoon is best for a bike loop of the hills, which is a moderate effort of two to four hours, or a gentler walk along the Scheldt. Oudenaarde also has a tapestry tradition, and the town hall's collection recalls its weaving history. April to October offers the best cycling weather, and the Tour of Flanders race in early April draws large crowds, so booking ahead matters then. Return tickets from Ghent cost about €6 to €9 each way, which keeps the trip inexpensive.