It hardly seems possible, but the little town of Thuin, not far from Charleroi, has ancient hanging gardens built on the steep hillside overlooking the River Sambre.
Reached by cobbled lanes, the terraced gardens were recently restored to create a fascinating trail running past small allotments, old city gates and an unexpected vineyard where they produce a few hundred bottles of Clos des Zouaves red wine every year.
Once you have visited the gardens, you can wander around the walled mediaeval town on the hill overlooking the river. You might almost think you were in France.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
