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Beautiful panorama of French Flanders. A little higher up lies the Catsberg.

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This castle was the seat of the lordship of Flêtre. The Van Vleteren family ruled here, succeeded in 1364 by the Van Houtte family. Between 1364 and 1380, Jan van Houtte had a fortified castle built. It was equipped with a wooden gallery between the castle and the freestanding tower, from which the soldiers could hurl projectiles at the besiegers. Later, as military technology advanced, these were replaced by machicolations. In 1532, the lordship passed through marriage to the Wignacourt family. In 1656, Flêtre, under Jacob van Wignacourt, was elevated to a county. The last Count of Flêtre, Balthasar-Philippe de Wignacourt, died in poverty in 1810. During the French Revolution, the castle was expropriated and largely demolished to reuse the building materials. However, the keep was so massive that demolition was decided against. In the early 19th century, the estate was purchased by an industrialist, who built a house on the site of the demolished castle and converted the keep into a reception hall, with Louis XV-style wall paneling. Later, the estate was purchased by Edmond Vanuxem, a brewer in Ardres. He commissioned the construction of the current brick castle, completed in 1872. After the First World War, the moats were filled in. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasteel_van_Wignacourt

Eecke is a typical Flemish village, with its brick houses. Here you will find the local cheese dairy, known for its regional specialties, as well as the Klockhuis, an old belfry that is part of the village's heritage. A cozy tavern allows you to stop and enjoy a beer or a typical dish.

tough climbs but beautiful views

The name "Catsberg" refers to a Germanic tribe, the Chatti (in Latin Chatti or Catti), who first appeared in history in the last years before the beginning of our era. In 162 and 170, the Chatti entered the history books once more as aggressors with their invasions of present-day southern Germany and Belgium. After that, the Chatti disappeared as an independent tribe. They probably merged with the Franks at the beginning of the sixth century. Source: Wikipedia

The top of the Catsberg is 164m above sea level. The TV mast adds another 200m to that.

"Col" is a big word for a hill that is no higher than 109m. The point is therefore mainly known as the approach to the Catsberg, with its 164m not exactly a "peak", but the abbey on the top can be seen from far away and gives the Catsberg a shine that also radiates on the Col de Berthen.