ホーフレーデの天然記念物・トップ12

Beautiful green surroundings

Beautiful forest where you can cycle.

Just outside the cemetery, a new monument was also placed: “The Poppy Cenotaph”. It is entirely built around 2016 poppies, the iconic flower for everything related to World War I. The poppies were forged by children from various European countries. The monument was inaugurated in early November 2016. At the monument, there is a peace register, where every visitor can leave a message of peace.

The Wijnendalebos near Torhout is a historical forest area that was part of the medieval Bos van Houthulst and has an area of approximately 280 hectares. The forest consists of oaks, beeches and alders, with a rich flora and more than 500 species of mushrooms. Part of the forest is accessible to the public with walking paths and an educational trail, while other parts are protected as a forest reserve. The area borders the Kasteel van Wijnendale and is protected as a Natura 2000 area because of its ecological value.

The information board also warns the hiker about the “eternal hunter” who is said to roam here at night. According to legend, a farmer’s son preferred hunting to harvesting, so the farmer/father cursed him to an eternal hunt. Sometimes you can still hear the hunting horn or the calling of the dogs. I didn’t hear anything, but then again, I don’t normally walk through a forest at night. 😉

The Wulvemote is still very recognizable in structure, even though nature has taken back much of what once was. When reading the information board, this mote (or motte) refers to a house (made of wood and loam) for a farming family and herd surrounded by a ditch. Another theory would see this mote as part of a protective belt of various motes. This protective belt would have functioned as a line of defense against the Norsemen. Little is known about the function(s) of motes and it will probably remain a mystery forever…

Absolutely beautiful area of 44 hectares of forest, with three ponds with remarkable names, of which the largest, the castle pond, is called "'t Zeetje". In the second pond, Ardoyevijver, there is a headland/peninsula with a bench where the view is beautiful and it is quiet to sit. The third pond and surroundings are managed as a nature reserve. On the edge of it there is a birdwatching hut.

This 181-hectare domain consists mainly of contiguous forest and its history is closely linked to Wijnendale Castle.