Brustem, Borgloon and Boekhout

Castles, religious monuments, marl caves: Haspengouw breathes history. This is where Tongeren, the oldest city in Belgium, is located. But also the grave town of Borgloon and Sint-Truiden, the sixth monument city in Flanders. More than 100 castles spice the landscape, including Grand Commandery Alden Biesen, one of the largest castle domains in the Euregio. Some of those castles are open to visitors - at the nice Chateau de la Motte you can even have a bite to eat and stay the night too. A completely different way to experience a castle than with a guided tour, this is where people live! The freely accessible castle park is worth a stroll through. Specially constructed walking paths and wild herb gardens lead you around the castle to the Motte source. The terrace under the beautiful trees of the park allows you to enjoy the silence and the scents of the country. Or have a snack on the terrace on the moat, the ideal setting for a romantic lunch. Another historic address on the route is Rijkel Castle, with its rich history dating back to the 13th century. In the 16th century the castle was a manor and the house of this farm was preserved in the high southeastern part of the castle, flanked by stepped gables - the oldest part of the castle. The rest of the castle has more of a 17th century appearance. You go even further back in time when you cycle over the Roman cobblestones. This road led from Boulogne-Sur-Mer to Cologne, a very important route in Roman times. More than 2,000 years after its construction, this route, which connected the North Sea coast with the Roman army camps on the Rhine, is still excellently preserved. In addition to being 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.