Trouée d'Arenberg
Coordinates: 50°23′56″N 3°24′45″E / 50.399°N 3.4125°E
The Trouée d'Arenberg or Tranchée de Wallers-Arenberg (English: Trench of Arenberg) is a 2.4 km long cobbled road in the municipality of Wallers in Northern France, in the Département Nord. The road's official name is La Drève des Boules d'Hérin ("Bullet Alley of Hérin") and crosses the Forêt de Raismes-Saint-Amand-Wallers, outside France better known as the Forest of Arenberg. It is best known from the annual cycling classic Paris–Roubaix held in April, where it is one of the most difficult passages of the race.
Officially, the 2,400 meters of cobbles were laid in the time of Napoleon I, in the late 18th century, crossing the large forest of Saint-Amand-Wallers, close to Wallers and just west of Valenciennes. The road is straight and narrow (3 m), dropping slightly when entering the forest from the village of Arenberg, then rising in the second half. The altitude is 25m at the start and 19m at the end. The cobbles are extremely difficult to ride because of their irregularity. Many fans have taken away cobbles as souvenirs, leading to a regular check-up of the road.
The Trench of Arenberg was first included in Paris–Roubaix in 1968 and has become an iconic location of the cobbled classic. It is one of three "five star" sections of pavé, together with the sections of Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l'Arbre which come later in the race.
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