Cycling along the Ghent-Bruges canal between Lovendegem and Aalter

With this route you will discover the Meetjesland, a special region. In the northern Krekengebied you will cycle through vast polders and along quiet creeks and canals. In the southern Houtland you will walk through beautiful forests and along quiet watercourses. If you want to taste the healthy outdoor life, you will definitely get your money's worth in the Meetjesland. You start your route in Lovendegem, a very old town. The first part of the name (lovende) is a corruption of the family name'Lubantos\\\', which later called itself'Luvand\\\'. The second part (gem) means home or home. Lovendegem therefore means settlement or permanent residence of a certain Luvand. The name already appeared in the 12th century in the form of Lovendeghem. In and around Lovendegem you will find beautiful natural views, authentic footpaths, historic buildings, small cafes and delicious eateries and restaurants where you can enjoy yourself after your bike ride. In the centre of Lovendegem -- probably on the site of an 11th-century house of worship -- stands the 15th-century St. Martin's Church -- which was largely destroyed by the Geuzen in the 16th century. Based on a design by the master builders Jan and Robrecht Persyns, the church was restored in 1616, after which it was enlarged in 1767 and again in 1822. In 1896-97, the St. Martin's Church was almost completely rebuilt in neo-Gothic style. But Lovendegem is mainly known as a castle municipality - the castles are all privately owned, but you can see them beautifully from your bike. There are about ten castles and country houses on the territory of Lovendegem, including the castle of Lovendegem. Near the church, a long avenue gives access to the castle - this impressive oak avenue is protected as a valuable landscape. In all probability, this castle already existed at the end of the 14th century. As for the feats of arms that took place around the castle, the occupation of the castle by the people of Ghent in 1383 during their umpteenth uprising against Lodewijk van Male is mentioned and on St. Andrew's Day in 1452 it was plundered and thoroughly destroyed by the war bands. In 1641 the building was considerably enlarged for the first time by Jonkheer Joos Triest. He built the northern wing with the still existing chapel and the painted glass window. The castle with its towers is surrounded by a beautiful park with pine forests and domains is owned by the Dons de Lovendegem family, but you are allowed to walk through it: it is worth it! Then you drive a long way along the Ghent-Bruges canal, one of the oldest canals in the country. The history of the Ghent-Bruges canal begins in the 13th century. It was the people of Bruges who started the excavation works in an attempt to free the Zwingeul, which was silting up. They wanted to make a connection with the Leie in Deinze, but this was met with fierce resistance from the city of Ghent. The dispute dragged on for a long time. At the end of the 14th century, the Ghent White Hoods fought in Aalter with the Bruges canal diggers, who lost the battle. It was not until 1604 that the Flemish cities agreed on a canal that would connect Ghent, Bruges and Ostend with each other and the sea. In 1625, the canal (42 km) was finally opened. The canal forms an important green ribbon between Ghent and Bruges. It fulfils a "corridor function"; animals can move freely from one area to the other here. The green canal leads through a great variety of biotopes, from sparse grasslands, thickets with broom and gorse to forest zones and reed beds, which are very valuable for a number of bird species. This is how you reach Aalter, a place whose history goes back much further. Archaeological finds show that the territory of Aalter was already inhabited during prehistoric times. The name Aalter first appeared in the year 974, due to the donation of part of the Villa Haleftra to the Sint-Pietersabdij in Ghent. Aalter played an important role in the Revolution of Ghent against the Count. In 1379, the Witte Kaproenen defeated the canal diggers of Bruges on the territory of Aalter. The digging of the Brugse Vaart from 1613 to 1623 in the Durme basin was an important development for the place. Many fortifications were built along the canal, to defend against the Dutch. In 1918, the upper part of the spire of the Sint-Corneliuskerk was dynamited by German troops. This destruction also caused a lot of damage to the roof. The church had been rebuilt and greatly expanded 15 years earlier. The destruction from the First World War was restored from 1921 to 1923, according to the neo-Gothic plans of architect Camille Goethals from 1902. You drive back to Zomergem via a beautiful rural route and then on to your starting point.