Get to know West Flanders

This route introduces you to the Belgian cities of Torhout and Roeselare in the province of West Flanders. Roeselare has been an important trading town since the tenth century. When the city temporarily falls into French hands through the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678, smuggling suddenly forms a large part of the'trade\\\'. Nowadays, trade mainly takes place in shops, if you want to shop, the Ooststraat is the place to be. The route leads you east out of the city, after which you drive through the countryside and through characteristic villages such as Ardooie and Lichtervelde towards Torhout. In Torhout you cycle past Ravenhof Castle. The castle is said to have been built on the foundations of a structure that stood here between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. Today, the Tourism Office is located in the castle. Feel free to ask here about the location of the Mustard Museum, where you can learn everything about the evolution from a seed to a fine and spicy seasoning. Mustard is the regional product par excellence here. Every family in Torhout once made its own mustard and there were 5 mustard factories active here. Today, the town is home to only one artisanal mustard maker, the Wostyn family. Their mustard is regularly used in cooking programs on Flemish television. The route starts and ends in Ardooie.