Bornes Frontières 1780 – Interreg France Wallonie Vlaanderen

Walking along a border that tells a shared story

What if a border became a place to meet rather than a line that separates?

On 19 September, the Bornes Frontières 1780 micro-project invites visitors to explore the historic border between France and Belgium through a heritage day connecting La Flamengrie, Bettrechies and Honnelles.

Along the way, participants will discover historic border markers dating back to 1780. These stones have stood in the landscape for more than two centuries, bearing witness to the history shared by communities on both sides of the border.

Organised as part of the European Heritage Days and Interreg Cooperation Day 2026, the event will bring this cross-border heritage to life and offer visitors a different way to experience the territory.

A full day along the French-Belgian border

The programme will start in the morning with a guided hike from La Flamengrie to Bettrechies, following a newly created walking route and discovering restored historic border markers along the way.

In the afternoon, visitors will be invited to learn more about the history of the border during a conference in La Flamengrie. The day will also include the opening of two micro-museums, in Honnelles and La Flamengrie, where historic border markers that could not remain in their original locations have been preserved.

Another symbolic moment will take place later in the afternoon, with the repositioning of border marker No. 36 on the French-Belgian border.

The day will end with a Franco-Belgian friendship drink – a fitting conclusion to a day dedicated to a border that has become a shared heritage.

The event also highlights the work carried out through the Interreg France–Wallonie–Vlaanderen micro-project Bornes Frontières 1780. By restoring and showcasing these historic markers, the French and Belgian partners are preserving traces of their common history while creating new opportunities to discover the border together.

A border, centuries-old stones and communities on both sides: on 19 September, visitors will be invited not only to discover where France and Belgium meet, but also the history they share.