Circuit Day Mettet: Tips for your stay and places of interest

A visit to the Mettet circuit in Belgium is a must for every motorbike enthusiast. The Jules Tacheny circuit offers plenty of opportunities to practise riding techniques and challenge yourself. In addition to the adrenaline rush on the track, we discovered that the area around Mettet also has a lot to offer. In this blog, we share our experiences and give tips for eating, staying overnight and visiting beautiful sights in the region – so you can combine your day at the circuit with exploring the beautiful surroundings.

Circuit training at the Jules Tacheny circuit in Mettet

One of the main reasons for motorcyclists to visit Mettet in Belgium is, of course, the Jules Tacheny circuit. We love coming here because it offers a great balance between challenging corners and long straights. This makes for a dynamic riding experience and gives you the chance to practise your riding techniques. The circuit is also easy to navigate and relatively compact. Mettet also has excellent facilities, such as well-maintained paddocks and amenities.

We recommend booking a track day through Inter-Track. Marjolein has now ridden several times in the beginners' group and has had good experiences with riding under instruction at Inter-Track. You ride in a small group of 2-3 people behind the instructor. This teaches you the best racing line and gives you tips afterwards to improve your own riding technique. After a number of sessions under instruction, you are allowed to drive freely. Oscar drives in the faster group, where you can drive freely all day.

Where to stay in Mettet?

During our last trip, we stayed in Le Roux, near Mettet. We booked this Airbnb, which we really liked. A nice studio with a swimming pool, overlooking the green hills with grazing cows. The owner is very hospitable and helpful. We were allowed to park the car with the trailer carrying our motorbike in front of his house. It's a 15-minute drive from the Airbnb to the circuit.

Where to eat in and around Mettet?

• Restaurant Le Bistrologue in Mettet has a cosy atmosphere and serves bistro dishes with a creative twist. The menu combines local Belgian flavours with international influences.

• Restaurant Les Cousines is located along the water just outside the town of Dinant. This restaurant has a homely atmosphere and serves generous portions for lunch. We found this to be a nice alternative to the more touristy restaurants in Dinant.

• Restaurant Il Vulcano Auvelais is an authentic Italian restaurant known for its delicious Neapolitan pizzas. The lasagne here is also highly recommended! The restaurant is located in the village of Sambreville, near the Airbnb where we stayed.

• Le Pain d'Antan is a boulangerie chain with delicious cakes and freshly made baguettes. We bought a coffee-filled éclair and a Liège waffle here.

What to do in the Mettet area?

For anyone who, like us, wants to explore the area in addition to a day at the circuit, there are plenty of special places to discover around Mettet.

• Panoramic viewpoint ‘Roche à Lomme’: Put on your walking boots for a short but challenging climb to this viewpoint. Once at the top, you will have a magnificent view of Nismes and the surrounding area, and on a clear day you can even see Frasnes. Once known as “Roche à l'Homme”, the name refers to a legend in which a goatherd fell from the rock. A concrete cross stands on top as a memorial.

  
  

• Fondry des Chiens: This so-called “mini Grand Canyon of Belgium” is a remarkable natural phenomenon. You can descend into the sinkhole via a steep path, surrounded by rock formations. It is a small but photogenic stop, and with the car park nearby, it is ideal for a short visit.

  
  

• Dinant: This charming town on the Meuse is characterised by tall townhouses, the imposing citadel on the rocks, and the Collegiate Church of Our Lady with its spherical tower made of grey limestone. After visiting the church, the climb to the citadel is well worth the effort. This historic fort played an important role during the battles of the First World War and is now a museum with reconstructions of old rooms such as the kitchen, dormitories, and smithy. You can also visit the prisons and a shelter that was damaged by bombing and is now slanted. Walking through the shelter is a really strange experience. You notice that it really affects your sense of balance because your horizon is suddenly slanted.

  
  

• Villers-la-Ville: These impressive ruins of a Cistercian abbey dating from 1190 are set in 15 hectares of grounds and are perfect for a historical walk. The abbey flourished particularly in the 13th century, when the community numbered 100 monks and 300 lay brothers. In the centuries that followed, the abbey also fell on hard times, due to Spanish looting (1544), French troops expelling the monks (1796) and the Charleroi-Leuven railway line being laid across the property in 1851. It was not until 1893 that the abbey became the property of the Belgian state, which began to maintain it properly.

  
  

  The abbey and its monastery buildings cover a total of 15 hectares. An N-road runs through it, so you can also drive between the buildings by car. This is fun, because it feels like you are driving through a historic village. We spent some time walking around here. We found the church particularly impressive.

  
  

In conclusion

Our trip to Mettet not only provided us with an exceptional circuit experience, but also a surprising introduction to the beautiful surroundings. We hope that our tips will inspire you to embark on your own adventure and enjoy this multifaceted destination. We would love to hear about any new restaurants or attractions you discover, as we will definitely be returning here.