Bocholt, Wijchmaal and Helchteren
Pelt, Flanders, Belgium
Cycling route: 127239
Provided by: Groots Genieten
63.8 km
03:45 h
1124 kcal
76 m
Description
Belgian nature is at least as beautiful as the Dutch and the villages are just as cozy. This cycling route proves this, which goes from Bocholt straight through Wijchmaal to Helchteren. Along the way you will pass the Resterheide, a nature reserve of 170 hectares located southeast of Hechtel. The Resterheide is part of one of the largest nature reserves in Flanders: The Valley of the Zwarte Beek. Rare animals such as the black woodpecker, the woodlark, the snipe and the bluethroat live there, but there are also beautiful plants. The Resterheide is covered with conifers, especially the Scots pine and the Corsican pine. These species were planted to provide wood for the mines in the area, but also to preserve the shifting sands in the area. The first trees were planted at the beginning of the twentieth century. The forests have now gained the upper hand; only a small area of heathland remains.
During your tour you will pass Ter Dolen Castle, which was already mentioned in 1282. The castle was the summer residence of the abbots of the Abbey of Sint-Truiden and the first abbot had the castle occupied in 1340. The abbot supported the prince-bishop while the residents of Sint-Truiden sided with the people of Liège. This division regularly led to conflicts. The castle has been witness and victim of many skirmishes over the centuries and has suffered from neglect. In 1522, the old castle was renovated and took on the appearance of a fortified mansion. A horse stable and a pigeon tower were added, a ring wall with towers was built and a deep moat was dug around the complex. An entrance gate was placed in 1621 and a castle chapel was added to the complex in 1649. Renovations in the eighteenth century gave the building a classicist style and the appearance of a country house. The castle also suffered damage in the twentieth century: Germans severely damaged the complex when they were expelled from it. Since 1994, a castle brewery has been located in the castle farm.
Height Profile
You do not want to miss this
Below you will find various suggestions for breaks that you can visit during your route. These are divided into different categories, making it easy for you to choose.
Directions
| # | Description | Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
205 | 205 (3910, Pelt, Flanders, Belgium) | 0.00 km | |
209 | 209 (3910, Pelt, Flanders, Belgium) | 1.92 km | |
206 | 206 (3990, Peer, Flanders, Belgium) | 3.96 km | |
245 | 245 (3900, Pelt, Flanders, Belgium) | 5.68 km | |
247 | 247 (3941, Hechtel-Eksel, Flanders, Belgium) | 8.65 km | |
248 | 248 (Hoksentstraat, 3940, Hechtel-Eksel, Flanders, Belgium) | 10.31 km |
Reviews
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