Burgundian Tour

The Burgundian Loop introduces you to beautiful nature reserves and the six charming villages of the municipality of Hilvarenbeek. You'll cycle along quiet lanes, through wooded areas, and past meadows. The starting point of the route is the Vrijthof in Hilvarenbeek. Hilvarenbeek is a beautiful village with a unique Burgundian atmosphere. At the heart of the municipality lies the authentic Franconian market square, the Vrijthof. This square is surrounded by village houses, many charming terraces, and old linden trees; the giant "Geboden-linden" (bequest linden), under which justice was once administered, is over three hundred years old. Next to the Vrijthof stands a 75-meter-high monumental tower of Kempen brick Gothic style dating from 1450. The church is even older than this tower and has a surprising interior. From Hilvarenbeek, you cycle to Esbeek. This old village lies east of the Rovertsche Heide estate and Gorp en Roovert. This nature reserve extends southward into the beautiful De Utrecht estate. This charming, historic village is home to the descendants of the people who reclaimed the heathland a century ago. Esbeek offers several terraces where you can relax and enjoy a drink during your bike ride. From Esbeek, the route continues to Baarschot. The rural center of Baarschot is a close-knit community with its own unique social culture. Agriculture used to be the main source of income for the residents. Besides the monumental old brewery, there are several eighteenth-century longhouses and a Marian grotto, a war memorial from 1945. After Baarschot, comes the center of Diessen, a village with a centuries-old history. It was inhabited even before the Common Era. Since the eighth century, the village center has had a special bond with St. Willibrord. The fifteenth-century church in the village is therefore dedicated to him. From Diessen, the route heads towards Haghorst, a picturesque reclamation village with stunning natural surroundings. With its Wilhelmina Canal, the town is ideal for bike rides and picnics by the lock. During the summer months, dozens of boats pass through this lock, where you can also enjoy watching the boats and yachts pass through—a real sight! The final village is Biest-Houtakker. In the center of the village lies a "bisest"—a triangular, grassy square surrounded by a cluster of long farmhouses. The edge of the village offers kilometers of views over the surrounding fields and farmland. From Biest-Houtakker, the route leads via the Gorp and Roovert estates back to Hilvarenbeek. The estate consists of approximately 800 hectares of forest and 370 hectares of farmland and is owned by the Van Puijenbroek family. The core of the estate is formed by the two very old hamlets of "Gorp" and "Roovert".