The Charmille of Haut-Marêt is a charming hornbeam tunnel in La Reid, considered one of the longest covered walks in Europe.
It dates back to 1885, when Michel Nys commissioned two roadmen to plant a tree alley along the south-west edge of his property. The town blacksmith, Adolphe Corten, fashioned the metal rings that continue to hold the trees in place today.
Back then, the tunnel was around 1,000 meters long, made up of 4,700 hornbeams. That changed in May 1940, when German tanks tore through the northern section when invading the country. It was never replanted, and the tunnel now measures 573 meters.
After being left abandoned for decades, the walkway was classified in 1979 and completely restored by 1985. Due to the great care of the students of the nearby Agricultural School (IPEA), it is now considered one of the most beautiful tree tunnels in Europe.
Today, visitors can wander under this century-old arching canopy all year round, often dubbed the Tunnel of Love for its fairytale-like atmosphere.
