Bilzen, Membruggen and Hoeselt

Have we arrived in the Bordeaux region? You would think so! The Wine Castle Genoelselderen not only has the appearance of a French castle, it also produces wine that effortlessly competes with the top French wines. This is due to the soil: the marl subsoil in Riemst is comparable to that of the classic French wine regions. Moreover, the local climate corresponds to the climate in the Burgundy region of about 100 years ago. Combine this with the highest quality vines and you get top wines that are on the menu in the best Belgian restaurants. And this is not the only castle you will pass on this route. The Grand Commandery Alden Biesen, which you will encounter in Bilzen, was built by the German order of knights. Now the impressive castle complex has been beautifully restored and transformed into a cultural center of the Flemish Government. A visit to the castle takes you very far back in time. Almost the entire domain outside, including the church and the English park, is free to visit. The French garden can be visited for a fee. If you have the time, let a guide show you around - also a nice idea for day two, if you stay overnight in the area. The most beautiful part of the moated castle is the authentically restored apartment of the Grand Commander and the blue lounge. These areas can only be visited with a guide. Slippers to pull over your shoes are ready - everything to protect the expensive parquet! The reception center in Alden Biesen-Bilzen has the pleasant task of promoting the beautiful Hesbaye castle landscape of Alden Biesen. Castles, religious monuments, marl caves: Haspengouw breathes history. Here lies Tongeren, the oldest city in Belgium. But also the town of Borgloon and Sint-Truiden, the sixth monumental city of Flanders. More than 100 castles spice up the landscape, including Grand Commandery Alden Biesen, one of the largest castle estates in the Euregio. In addition to a real castle region, Haspengouw is also the largest fruit garden in Western Europe. In April the landscape changes into a colorful sea of blossoms, in the autumn millions of ripe apples, pears, strawberries, cherries, blackberries and berries stimulate your senses. During the blossom and harvest festivals, auctions and fruit companies open their doors wide; fruity activities take place everywhere. During this route you will also come across a beautiful nature reserve: the protected landscape Groenendaal-Zangerhei and the Bonijterbos, which are part of the Munster valley. The Munster valley is located exactly at the transition between the sandy soils of the Kempen and the loamy soils of Haspengouw. This ensures that typical species from both the Kempen and Haspengouw occur in the region. The Munster valley is an important area, especially for forest and prey birds. The cultural treasures here are clearly matched by the natural wealth!