Οι καλύτερες διαδρομές ποδηλασίας χωρίς κυκλοφορία στη Φλαμανδική Βραβάντη

At a moderate speed you can fully enjoy the Brabantse Woud.

Park Abbey is considered one of the best-preserved abbeys in Western Europe. Besides the abbey and its church, the complex also includes an estate and extensive grounds with meadows and ponds. Although the abbey largely dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, its history goes back to 1129, when the Duke of Brabant gifted his hunting grounds in Leuven to the Premonstratensians. The Premonstratensians, or Norbertines, were considered wealthy and powerful and were therefore called the "Park Princes." They led a privileged life and devoted themselves to art and literature. The abbey's library once housed a renowned collection of manuscripts and early printed books. The abbots adorned the interiors with works of art, including the stained-glass windows by Jean de Caumont in the cloister and the stucco ceilings by Jan Christiaen Hansche. Source: Flemishmastersinsitu.com

In front of the park is a French garden with ponds, flower beds and statues, which extends to a series of ponds that receive their water from the Voer.

Το Warandepark έχει έκταση 205 εκτάρια και ήταν κάποτε το κυνηγετικό πεδίο των δουκών της Βραβάντης. Το πάρκο είναι ένα βασιλικό δάσος, διαμορφωμένο ως πάρκο, που περιλαμβάνει δύο ξεχωριστές κοιλάδες. Μπροστά από το πάρκο βρίσκεται ένας γαλλικός κήπος με λίμνες, παρτέρια και αγάλματα, ο οποίος καταλήγει σε μια σειρά από λίμνες που λαμβάνουν νερό από τον ποταμό Voer. Είναι μία από τις φλαμανδικές πύλες εισόδου στο δάσος Zoniënwoud. Μέρος του δάσους Zoniënwoud έχει αναγνωριστεί ως Μνημείο Παγκόσμιας Κληρονομιάς της UNESCO. Το ίδιο το δάσος είναι βιότοπος για πολλά ζώα. Όχι μόνο σκίουροι και κουνέλια μπορούν μερικές φορές να παρατηρηθούν από πολύ κοντά, αλλά όλο και πιο συχνά μπορείτε να εντοπίσετε και μια αλεπού. Η χήνα του Νείλου και ο παπαγάλος με το κολάρο είναι πραγματικοί αφρικανικοί πρεσβευτές του Πάρκου και μπορούν να παρατηρηθούν και κυρίως να ακουστούν όλο το χρόνο. Ο δενδρομυωξός, το λευκό κιχλόνι και το φυλλοσκόπιο (την άνοιξη και το καλοκαίρι) είναι σταθεροί επισκέπτες και όσοι επισκέπτονται το Πάρκο πολύ νωρίς το πρωί ή αργά το βράδυ έχουν πολλές πιθανότητες, ειδικά το χειμώνα, να ακούσουν το κουκουβάγια να φωνάζει.

Opening hours: Sunday 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Monday Closed Tuesday 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM–6:00 PM

The Abbey Café of Het Moment is a special place: in a historically important place you can enjoy a menu, most of the dishes of which are prepared with at least one Averbode product: beer, cheese, bread, gingerbread or speculaas. The Abbey Café also houses the impressive home brewery: the place where various Averbode beers are brewed, which you can only drink there. They are not bottled. When the weather is nice, the terrace offers the most beautiful view in the entire region: the Abbey of Averbode in all its glory. More info: https://averbodemoment.be/nl/belevingscentrum/abdijcafe/

Lots of green, trees and water. Quiet for walking, cycling, picnicking.

The core of Horst Castle probably dates back to the 13th century and is characterised by a square keep. The keep probably belonged to the oldest core that was further expanded into a fortified castle in the 15th century. During the troubles under Maximilian of Austria in 1489, the castle of Horst was taken by the people of Leuven and set on fire. According to literary sources, only the keep, part of the entrance gate and a defensive wall remained standing. The residential and east wing were renovated and expanded in the 16th century. The round tower also dates from this period. The outer wall was provided with a rectangular bay window. The castle lost its military character and became more of a pleasant residential area with a view of the moat, the ponds and the inner courtyard. Brick construction with sandstone layers characterise these buildings. In 1587, however, the castle was set on fire again during the raids of the Geuzen. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that restoration work began. It is difficult to deduce from the available sources to what extent this involved restoration or an embellishing conversion of the castle complex. Presumably nothing changed in the internal structure, but only after the structurally necessary repairs were the interiors completely refinished. Maria-Anna Van den Tympel had a new chapel built against the keep in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the complex must have been damaged by plundering and neglect, and it is possible that it also suffered from plundering during the Brabant Revolution of 1830. Around 1850, the castle must have been habitable again, but the castle buildings only served as a farm. In the land registry, the site around the castle is called "De Notelaren Boomgaerd". Around that time, the most dilapidated part must have been demolished, namely the southern part and the superstructure of the gate. The rest of the complex was probably restored with reused demolition material and in traditional style. The castle was divided in 1880, with one part being registered as a school house. In 1897, a further division followed, with two plots being designated as houses. Several restoration campaigns followed in the 20th century. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Horst Castle, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43619