カペッレンのおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

このハイライトを通過する美しいハイキングをお探しですか？ https://www.thilo.be/wandelblog/historische-wandelroute-kapellen-langs-bunkers-en-antitankgracht/

Bench at the end of the water

2 beautiful walking routes around the fort

Dogs are not allowed on the Loopgravenpad. This has to do with preserving the historical heritage. The trenches are sandy verges and dogs tend to dig in them. Then the trenches get damaged and we lose this important heritage. In the rest of the Mastenbos, dogs are of course welcome, if they are on a leash. www.natuurenbos.be

Variety guaranteed in this 178 hectare nature reserve in Kapellen! Various plant and animal species live peacefully side by side in the forest. Nature and Forest pays extra attention to heathland management in the Mastenbos and the rare nightjar is very happy about that. Here and there you can see traces of an old landscape park where majestic avenues take you back to times long past. The water features are an amusement park for bats, frogs, salamanders and toads. The Loopgravenpad is a real must! www.natuurenbos.be

In August 1914, the fort was at full strength when approximately 500 men were stationed there. They were under the command of Kommandant Jean Vogels. In the end, there was not much action because the fort was evacuated when Antwerp was occupied by the Germans. Kommandant Jean Vogels was appointed Honorary Major on 19 October 1923. In 1917, the fort became part of the German defence line. After the First World War, the fort was modernised. Overpressure chambers against gas attacks and an anti-tank ditch were installed. Again, it was all for nothing because the fort was evacuated on 17 May 1940. After World War II, the fort was used by the Belgian Mine Clearance Service to destroy explosives, mines and ammunition.

Command bunker at the start of the walking route.

Wonderful to see how nature absorbs these heirlooms from the horrific war. Some bunkers are even barely visible anymore.