Departure in
30 August 2026
Departing Sunday, 30 August 2026 at 11:30
Petit Cheval Camino
From Maredsous to Santiago, at a horse's pace
Gaëtan, 51, and Champagne, a little horse born at Maredsous in April 2021. Together they are taking the road to Santiago, an adventure of nearly 2,000 kilometres.
-
1,950
kilometres
ridden: Maredsous, and Vézelay → Santiago
-
1
horse
Champagne, a Haflinger cross
-
30 August 2026
departure
at first light, from the abbey
-
3
months
or thereabouts, on the road
The project
The dream is not a new one
To ride out one morning through the gate of Maredsous Abbey, take to the road, and not stop before reaching Santiago de Compostela.
At 51, Gaëtan decided the moment had come. Not for the performance, nor for any record. But to allow himself, in a full life, the luxury of time: the time of Champagne's walking pace, of meetings at the roadside, of nights in barns or under the stars, of the unexpected, and of landscapes going slowly by.
Nearly 2,000 kilometres to share an adventure with his horse, to find a little time with himself again, and to go and meet others. Simply moving forward, one day after another, at Champagne's pace.
And then there is Maredsous. Because nobody ever really sets out from nowhere. The abbey is the starting point of this adventure, but also a place dear to Gaëtan, and the one where Champagne was born in April 2021.
So this road will have a purpose too: to contribute to the restoration of Maredsous Abbey, and help preserve this place of welcome, of meeting and of sharing, open to all.
Maredsous – Santiago de Compostela. On horseback, at the pace of the road.
The little horse
Champagne
Champagne was born at Maredsous in April 2021. Gaëtan was there for the birth and helped him into the world. Their story began in his very first seconds.
A little Haflinger cross, Champagne inherited from his mountain origins a sure foot, real endurance, and above all a calm and curious nature.
Since that first day, a particular bond has grown between them. Santiago is, in a way, its natural continuation: nearly 2,000 kilometres to cover together, each at the other's pace and listening to the other.
Champagne and Gaëtan have been preparing for months. Kilometres of trekking, whole days in the saddle, paths of every kind, traffic, noise, rain. Wind and muscle have to be built up, but so does learning to face the unexpected together.
Because a journey like this cannot be improvised. It begins long before departure, ride after ride, kilometre after kilometre.
- Breed
- Haflinger cross
- Born at
- Maredsous, April 2021
- Coat
- Bay, black mane, white markings
- Known for
- Calm and sure footing
From April 2021 to today
-
His first hours, in the straw, beside his mother. -
A foal in the stable, a few weeks later. -
Out at grass, the summer he was born. -
Champagne today, ready to take to the road.
The route
Nearly two thousand kilometres on horseback
The journey comes in three parts. First the Belgian Ardennes: from Maredsous Abbey to Couvin, on horseback. Then a transfer by lorry, with Champagne, to Vézelay, the historic starting point of one of the great French ways to Santiago.
At Vézelay, Gaëtan and Champagne take to the saddle again for the long crossing of France: the Berry, the Limousin, the Périgord, then the South-West as far as the Pyrenees.
On the far side begins the Camino Francés: Pamplona, Burgos, León, Galicia, and at last the Obradoiro square in Santiago de Compostela.
Nearly two thousand kilometres in all, at Champagne's pace. Around thirty kilometres a day, when the ground, the weather and everyone's form allow.
The road will decide the rest.
The main stages
-
Maredsous → Couvin
The start, through the Belgian Ardennes · 55 km
-
Couvin → Vézelay
By lorry, with Champagne · 357 km
-
Vézelay
Back in the saddle
-
Across France
Berry, Limousin, Périgord, South-West · 1,100 km
-
Camino Francés
Pamplona, Burgos, León, Galicia · 790 km
-
Santiago de Compostela
Obradoiro square
Around 1,950 km on horseback, plus the 357 km transfer between Couvin and Vézelay.
Live
Where are they today?
The map is updated from the road. You'll see the stages covered, the kilometres behind them and the day's photographs, with no account needed anywhere.
Loading the map…
The map is on its way
The journey hasn't started yet, or the map can't be shown here. You can still see it directly on Polarsteps.
Open on PolarstepsMap provided by Polarsteps. It updates automatically with every stage logged.
Open full size on Polarsteps ↗Latest posts
@petitchevalcamino ↗Why the journey
Riding for Maredsous Abbey
This journey is not only a personal undertaking. Champagne and Gaëtan are also riding to support Maredsous Abbey and help restore a place that means a great deal to them.
Every kilometre covered is an invitation to take part. Donations do not fund the journey, which Gaëtan pays for entirely himself. They go in full towards restoring the abbey and preserving its heritage.
€0 raised
target: €25,000
The counter starts when the journey does.
Secure donation via the King Baudouin Foundation
Or by bank transfer
To the King Baudouin Foundation's account, quoting the structured reference below.
- Beneficiary
- Fondation Roi Baudouin
- IBAN
- BE10 0000 0000 0404
- BIC
- GEBABEBB
- Structured reference
- +++623/4103/30018+++
The structured reference is essential: it is what directs the payment to the “Fonds Maredsous — Petit Cheval Camino — de Maredsous à Compostelle” fund. Without it, the gift is lost among the thousands of others the Foundation receives.
Staying in touch
A question, a field, a stretch of road?
Gaëtan reads everything, though he sometimes answers a few days late and on one bar of signal.