Chasing cobbles around Leuven
Our friends @nevereverpressrewind designed this route for us: starting from Café Soigneur in Leuven, you'll go chasing as many cobblestones as you can in the area. But that's not all: the region ain't exactly pancakeflat, so you'll need those climbing legs as well. Bergs & cobbles: what's not to like? Lots of hidden gems included, that's a promise!
If you feel like 147 km might be too much for you to handle, we've got you covered. Have a look at this 106 km version with 17 km of cobbles. Less kilometers, less cobbles, but no less fun.
Start
We set off from Café Soigneur, right in the heart of Leuven. Immediately after setting off, you’ll hit the first cobblestones on the steep Allerheiligenberg. We leave the city center via the Tiensepoort, and shortly after that comes the first real cobblestone section: Herpendaalstraat.
You won’t have much time to recover, because just past the center of Bierbeek lies perhaps the toughest section of the day: the Rue de Mollendaal. Nearly two kilometers of cobblestones, slightly uphill and in some places in particularly poor condition. Will you survive this? Good, because there’s much more to come.
Velpestraat cobbles
We wind our way between Tienen, Hoegaarden, and Leuven as the sections follow one another in rapid succession. When we briefly head into Walloon Brabant, you’ll face a few long and challenging stretches near Jodoigne. After a brief interlude, we head toward Chaumont-Gistoux, where - with a small detour - you can stop at Les Tartes de Chaumont Gistoux for a slice of “royal” pie.
Then we head north again toward Flanders, but first, a Walloon version of the Oude Kwaremont awaits. After a particularly steep cobblestone climb, you reach the top in Biez. With a little imagination, this charming little village strongly resembles the Walloon version of the Oude Kwaremont.
Back in Flanders, we’ll skip Moskesstraat - everyone knows that one by now - but have you ever heard of Moskesstraat’s “evil twin”? Meet Mommaertstraat from Tombeek: nearly two kilometers of cobblestones and gradients up to 13%. A climb that would certainly not be out of place in a Flemish classic.
A little later, we pass Herberg 't Klein Verzet, the ideal spot for a well-deserved break. Then we head toward Huldenberg via the Holstheide, where several cobblestone sections follow one another in quick succession.
This authentic pub means a well earned rest after the brutal Moskesstraat climb. Enjoy the hospitality and the nice selection of Belgian beers. But bear in mind that you still have a while to go.
Aardeweg
We slowly make our way back toward Leuven. Just before we head back into the city center, we take a detour via Oud-Heverlee to a lesser-known section that climbs toward the Meerdaal Forest. This is followed by a surprisingly smooth gravel path back toward the city—Strade Bianche vibes guaranteed, and perfectly doable on a road bike.
Once back in Leuven, we ride over the cobblestones at the Park Abbey, after which you’ll arrive back at Café Soigneur shortly thereafter. Time to check if everything is still securely fastened to your bike.
With Café Soigneur, our cycling café on Pater Damiaanplein in Leuven, we create a meeting place for cyclists, racing enthusiasts and the neighborhood