Around Zottegem

Zottegem is known as the Egmont city. The Count of Egmont (1522 - 1568) was a general and statesman in the Seventeen Provinces, just before the start of the Eighty Years' War. Zottegem is nicknamed 'The gateway to the Flemish Ardennes'. There are beautiful nature reserves in the rolling landscape around Zottegem. These hills are the annual backdrop to Flemish cycling races such as GP Stad Zottegem, the Three Days of De Panne and the Tour of Flanders.

Breivelde Castle is surrounded by the Breivelde Domain, a 14 hectare park. The park is adorned with many water features and numerous native and exotic tree species. In the beech forests you imagine yourself in a cathedral, without woody undergrowth and with trunks as pillars. The rich herb layer on the forest floor contains at least 226 plant species. There is a restaurant in the castle, with a terrace that offers a beautiful view of the park.

Leeuwergem is an elegant castle from 1764, surrounded by water, with a classic French rococo garden. Very special is the Lovertheater, an 18th-century open-air theater made from beech hedges, which can accommodate 800 spectators. The castle is inhabited and can be visited by appointment. The garden can be admired during the annual garden days in September.