Lommel, Eksel and Overpelt

Just across the border from Belgium in the province of Limburg, lies the Kempen town of Lommel, which celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 1990. Several beautiful nature reserves are part of Lommel, which hide the town between beautiful forests with deciduous and coniferous trees or vast heath plains, where various protected animal species live and special plants bloom in full regalia. As you get closer to the town, activity picks up; With a trade center and the large shopping center De Singel, Lommel is the third largest shopping city in Belgian Limburg. More than thirty chapels are scattered throughout the city and give it an authentic appearance. You can enjoy a terrace around the market square; with a wide range of restaurants and cafes, there is always something to suit your taste. South of Lommel, various heathlands stretch out and together form a large natural whole. A selection of the various domains through which this cycle route leads are the huge forests of the Hoeverbergen, the private estate of the Hoeverheide and the Kattenbosserheide, where cultural-historical elements are still present in the landscape. There were virtually no forests until the end of the nineteenth century. The forests of the Hoeverbergen show the combined forces of three surrounding municipalities and the Flemish government: more than 4,500 hectares of healthy trees and more than 1,000 hectares of private forest form an immense forest, which has been planted since 1850 on a previously relatively barren agricultural area and drifting sand plains. At that time, the coniferous forests still served an important economic purpose and were used for wood production, which mainly supplied prop wood for mine galleries. The coniferous forests of the Hoeverbergen, together with the terrils and the mining towers, are therefore still the silent witnesses of Limburg's rich mining past. Even today, the forests mainly consist of conifers; the Corsican and Scots pine cover 90% of the forest area. The vegetation on the Hoeverheide estate nowadays mainly consists of coniferous wood, but is gradually being transformed into a mixed forest with natural transitions. In the middle of the area are inland dunes and there is also a parabolic dune here. The nightjar, the goldcrest and the firecrest breed among the trees and shrubs. They have chosen a quiet accommodation with a beautiful view, because the castle and the park, with exotic plants including two giant sequoias, are still intact. If you want to enter the domain, you can do so if you make an appointment with the owner. A last noteworthy piece of nature that this bike ride takes you past is the Kattenbosserheide. Here, too, mainly Scots pines have been planted, but in the heart of the area, hidden between the trees, is a beautiful heath. In addition, a historic mill and a German military cemetery can be found in the area. Another special element are the found burial mounds of the urnfield culture from prehistoric times. Special excavated objects from this area are exhibited in the Museum Ons Erfgoed in Lommel. When you return to the starting point of the bike ride, don't forget to stop at Profile Pauwels. The bicycle specialist will be happy to check your bicycle for defects and carry out the necessary maintenance. On presentation of the bicycle discount pass, you will receive a 10 euro discount on service and repairs at this Profile branch.