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Belgium
Flanders
East Flanders
Oudenaarde
Ronse

Geuzentoren (Viewfinder of the Flemish Ardennes)

Discover
Places to see
Belgium
Flanders
East Flanders
Oudenaarde
Ronse

Geuzentoren (Viewfinder of the Flemish Ardennes)

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Geuzentoren (Viewfinder of the Flemish Ardennes)

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    Location: Ronse, Oudenaarde, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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    Best Hikes to Geuzentoren (Viewfinder of the Flemish Ardennes)

    4.7

    (330)

    1,803

    hikers

    1. Muziekbos Rope Trail – Boardwalk on Stilts loop from Ronse - Renaix

    13.1km

    03:40

    260m

    260m

    Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Moderate

    4.6

    (51)

    290

    hikers

    2. Music Forest – Muziekbos Play Forest loop from Maarkedal

    7.79km

    02:12

    170m

    170m

    Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Moderate

    4.8

    (33)

    339

    hikers

    3. Muziekbos Play Forest – Cat Sauvage Mill loop from Ronse - Renaix

    28.5km

    07:40

    350m

    350m

    Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Hard

    Tips

    January 5, 2022

    In the middle of the forest lies the fairytale Geuzen Tower. It was built on a dolmen. Here - according to legend - the poets Karel Maria Polydoor (Pol) de Mont and Omer Wattez coined the name "Flemish Ardennes".

    Poet and author (today one would say activist) Wattez (1857-1935) lived in a time when Flemish language, culture and way of life was suppressed. Seeing one's own homeland as an attractive travel destination was already considered a political issue and also a bit crazy, then giving the whole thing a poetic name - "Flemish Ardennes" - was a courageous act of emancipation, almost a coming out.

    Even then, Wattez was striving for a balance between man and nature - albeit more out of a romantic understanding and less for ecological reasons - and fought against the pollution of the Scheldt.

    Translated by Google •

      December 26, 2020

      Located on one of the highest peaks of the Muziekbos, a round tower built in iron sandstone.

      Translated by Google •

        June 12, 2021

        The Geuzentoren is one of the 19th century foils. Back then it was the custom for the wealthy bourgeoisie to have fantasy buildings or romantic-looking outbuildings built on their estate. All this to impress or out of prestige.
        In times long past, this Geuzentoren was also called the binoculars of the Flemish Ardennes. Know that in the 19th century the trees did not reach that high. When you stood on top of the Geuzentoren, you had a very distant view of the meadow area. This is also where the name, the pronunciation of the Flemish Ardennes, is said to have been used for the first time when Omer Wattez and his friend, the poet Pol De Mont, admired the landscape after an inspiring walk on the tower. Pol De Mont is said to have grouped out the legendary words 'But these are the Flemish Ardennes'. Since then, it has been the pet name for the Pearl of a region in the Flemish country.

        Translated by Google •

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          Elevation 150 m

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          Thursday 11 December

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          Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

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          Location: Ronse, Oudenaarde, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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