Walk around Oudenaarde

This round goes through the Flemish Ardennes and around Oudenaarde. You cycle through the city and the versatile nature areas around it, passing through friendly towns and chapels scattered throughout the landscape.

Oudenaarde was founded on the left bank of the Scheldt. The remains of the tributary of the river that once meandered through the city can still be seen in a few places. From the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, the city was renowned for the production of beautiful tapestries. Nowadays the city bears the nickname'The pearl of the Flemish Ardennes\\\'. In the city you can admire the town hall, a textbook example of Brabant late Gothic, or settle down for one of the famous brown beers.

You cycle along the Langemeersen nature reserve, which consists of flat, long strips of grassland in the Scheldt valley. These wet grasslands form one of the last large open valley areas in the Scheldt valley, with wet weeds, hay meadows and rows of pollard willows. This area is a true paradise for bird watchers and plant connoisseurs.

You cycle through the Rooigemsebeek valley, a nature reserve that is managed by Natuurpunt as a recognized nature reserve. Many animals find their home here. You can spot mammals such as the fox, stone marten, polecat, stoat and weasel and between the branches of the trees you can catch a glimpse of the kingfisher, little grebe, buzzard, little owl, marsh harrier or quail. Many special plants and flowers grow in the valley, such as the forest dandelion, the slender primrose and the speedwell.

You cycle on the dike along the Scheldt, with a view of the Heurnemeersen nature reserve. The cut-off river meanders, forests, grasslands and swamp vegetation of this reserve are home to a rich flora and fauna. The red bat has its hunting ground there. He finds a real feast because of the many insects that live there. There are also 55 species of birds breeding and 14 species of dragonflies and 22 species of butterflies have been observed.