Carefree cycling in hospitable Geel and surroundings

Traces of an old legend
The starting point of this route is in Geel, a city full of history. Legend has it that the Irish princess Dimpna was beheaded in Geel in the year 600 by her insane father because she refused to comply with incestuous requests. Her grave became a place of pilgrimage for the mentally ill. Traces of Dimpna can be found in various places in and around the centre of Geel, such as the Sint-Dimpnakerk. In the Gasthuismuseum you can learn more about life and work in the Geel hospital based on stories from the hospital residents from 1639, such as the foundling Merten and the mentally ill Jan Christaens.

Green nature 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 Kwarekken in Westerlo. Along the way you will also encounter enough wide landscapes and chapels that invite you to reflect on big and small life questions.

Shelter for pilgrims
The sick who came on pilgrimage to Geel spent nine days in the Ziekenkamer, a separate building at the Sint-Dimpnakerk. They only interrupted this period to attend mass or to pray around the Sint-Dimpnakerk. If all the cells in the Ziekenkamer were occupied, the pilgrims were given shelter by Geel families. This shows how hospitable the inhabitants of the Kempen are.

Want 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 .

Photo copyright: Mie De Backer