ヘルセルトのおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Rest and picnic area with a shelter in the Hertberg Provincial Green Area. There are clear information signs, and you can pick up a free hiking map of the area. An eco-toilet is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The picnic area is located near hiking junction 36.

This bat tower was built as a summer roost for several local bat species, such as the common pipistrelle, the serotine bat, and the common long-eared bat. The tower provides the bats with a daytime roost and shelter from the sun and predators of these winged mammals. If the bats feel at home there, the tower will likely serve as a maternity roost. The tower was placed in a quiet, sunny spot near several rows of trees and ponds. These are important hunting grounds for the bats. (De Merode Landscape Park)

This chapel now houses a statue of Our Lady. The blue and white decorative flowers also refer to Mary.

When the tram was pulled across the Grote Nete, the water level rose, overflowing into the canals behind it. This made it possible to irrigate agricultural land. The water in the castle pond could also be refreshed and replenished this way. The lock or weir system is still largely intact. It was classified as an industrial archaeological monument in 1999. In 2025, the tram underwent a thorough renovation and was restored to its full glory. Would you like to see how it works? Demonstrations are held on Heritage Day and Open Monument Day. (Westerlo Tourism)

A beautiful bridge over the Grote Nete river, not far from Merode Castle. You must cross the bridge to continue along the Grote Nete.

A beautiful nature reserve between Laakdal and Herselt, the red Laak stream, also known as the Varendonkse beek, flows through this forest. The writer Willem Elschot named himself after this forest.

Always worth a visit. This way you can learn more about this nature reserve.

Lourdes Grotto (Bergom) The Lourdes Grotto in Bergom is a Marian grotto built of brickwork, modeled on the grotto in Lourdes where Bernadette Soubirous is said to have seen the Virgin Mary in 1858. The structure, covered with earth at the back, has a candle holder at the bottom and a niche at the top with a white and blue plaster statue of the Virgin Mary, bearing the inscription "I am the Immaculate Conception." A beautiful iron gate with floral motifs encloses the grotto. Inside stands a copper indulgence sign with a bilingual inscription. Since the 19th century, the grotto has served as a religious and social meeting place and, even in the 21st century, remains a popular resting place for hikers and cyclists.