The Paterberg and Kwaremont are two cobbled climbs a kilometre apart near the village of Kluisberg, about eight kilometres south of Oudenaarde. Both are central to the modern Tour of Flanders route, and both are accessible on a standard road or gravel bike — though neither is easy. The Kwaremont is the longer climb, rising steadily for two kilometres over rough cobbles; the Paterberg is shorter and more violent, with sections exceeding 20 percent gradient on a narrow lane barely wide enough for two cyclists.
On the day of the race — the first Sunday in April — this stretch of countryside is transformed, with hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the roads and the atmosphere of a mass celebration. Outside race season, the climbs can be cycled in peaceful obscurity. The plateau above Kwaremont has wide views over the Flemish Ardennes, and the descent back toward Oudenaarde passes through quiet farmland. Both climbs are included in most of the marked cycling routes in the region.