Geistingen, Kessenich and Maaseik

The church village of Geistingen is located near Ophoven. Many objects from the Paleolithic and Neolithic have been found on the territory of Geistingen. Bronze axes and the presence of Eburones were also found here. In addition, a Roman army camp and Roman graves have been discovered. These finds show that the area has been inhabited since ancient times. Geistingen probably even originated as a Frankish settlement. The village always remained small. Gravel extraction started in 1944, but these activities ended around 2011. A silent witness to the gravel extraction is a huge lake between the Maas and Geistingen, which was created as a result. This lake is designed for nature and recreation. Near Geistingen you will find the beautiful village of Kessenich. Kessenich is the most northeastern village in Belgium and is just across the border. Just north of Kessenich is the beautiful nature reserve De Vijverbroek. The area originated as an old meander of the Maas and is approximately 140 hectares in size. Almost two hectares are covered with large alder trees. There is also a lot of willow thicket, marsh fern and marsh marigold. There is also plenty to see for bird lovers. Bluethroat, nightingale, honey buzzard and tree falcon are regularly spotted here. The Armenmolen is located one kilometer from the Belgian-Dutch border. It is one of the few remaining water mills on the Ittersebeek. This undershot water mill was used as a flour mill and was built around 1686. The mill was in operation until 1950, after which it became a community building for the Green Cross. Nowadays the mill is used as a home. The exterior has never been drastically changed and still looks authentic. The route starts and ends at hotel De Spaenjerd. In this cozy hotel you can have a delicious lunch before you start on the route. From toasted sandwiches to sandwiches and eggs, everything is equally delicious here. You can also enjoy a good meal at De Spaenjeerd after the bike ride. If you book an overnight stay at the hotel, you can use our package with route 133145, which also starts at this hotel.