Carefree cycling in hospitable Geel and the surrounding area

Traces of an ancient legend
The starting point of this route is in Geel, a city full of history. Legend has it that the Irish king's daughter Dimpna was beheaded in the year 600 by her mad father in Geel because she refused to comply with incestuous requests. Her grave became a place of pilgrimage for the mentally ill. At various places in and around the center of Geel you will find traces of Dimpna, such as the St. Dimpna Church. In the Gasthuismuseum you can learn more about life and work in the Geelse Gasthuis through the stories of hospital residents from 1639, such as the foundling Merten and the mentally ill Jan Christaens.

Green natural areas
Outside the city you will find peace in the abbey of Tongerlo and in the nature reserves Zammelsbroek, on the border of Geel and Westerlo, and the Beeltjens and the Kwareks in Westerlo. Along the way you will also encounter enough wide landscapes and chapels that invite you to reflect on life's big and small questions.

Reception for pilgrims
The sick who came on pilgrimage to Geel spent nine days in the Ziekenkamer, a separate building at the Sint-Dimpna Church. They only interrupted this period to attend mass or to go around the Sint-Dimpnakerk in prayer. When all the cells in the Sick Room were occupied, the pilgrims were given shelter with families from Geel. You can already see how hospitable the inhabitants of the Kempen are.

Would you like to know more about the background of this region before you explore this route yourself? Then take a look at the inspiration page about De Kempen .

Copyright photos: Mie De Backer