Discover Overijse: Viticulture, Forests and Culture

Overijse combines water-rich landscapes, wooded ridges, viticulture and remarkable buildings. Those planning a trip with varied interests will find inspiration here for walks, active pursuits, cultural discoveries and special experiences centred around grapes and flowers. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Overijse, you can therefore first consider whether nature, history or local culinary culture should be the focus of your stay.

Between the IJse Valley, the lake and wooded heights

For walks, the route “De IJsebroeken en zijn beboste heuvelruggen” offers several different landscapes. It runs along the pond in the IJse Valley, across the wooded ridges of Koningsberg and Bisdom, and over the Overijse plateau. Another option is the walk “Op bezoek bij druiventelers”. It leads through the water-rich IJse Valley and the sunken lanes of the protected Koningsberg landscape; Domaine Solheide lies along this route.

At Domaine Solheide, you can walk between the greenhouses; the grounds are freely accessible. The walk to the Solheide grape greenhouses also leads over cobblestones and along the cemetery wall, conveying part of the history of viticulture. Guided tours of Domaine Solheide can be booked through the Vrije Tijd information point.

Active outings in Zuidflank

The Zuidflank area is crossed by cycle and walking paths with a semi-paved surface known as Koersmix. Behind Vliegend Hert, a BMX and mountain bike course was also created in collaboration with the Overijse mountain bike school. These facilities offer various ways to spend a day outdoors: you can plan a hike or complement your stay with cycling and mountain biking activities.

If you are travelling with children, the Dru!f visitor centre offers a family game in which you follow the trail of a grape-grower. The game adds its own narrative element and can be included as a special discovery in an exploration of the theme of viticulture.

Viticulture, flowers and local experiences

The Dru!f Expo shows how table grapes are grown – from the oldest techniques to the latest technologies. Wijnkelder Soniën has a tasting room for up to 100 people and offers guided tours for families, groups of friends and associations. This allows you to discover viticulture not only through landscapes and walking routes, but also through its techniques and tasting culture.

At My Fest in Maleizen, flowers are available for self-picking on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also hold a flower festival or a picnic there. This broadens the range with an experience in which the focus is not on a classic sight, but on taking part yourself.

Historical and architectural impressions

The Beguinage Chapel, built of brick and sandstone, is, alongside the Begijnenborre, the only surviving remnant of the Mariadal beguinage, which was first mentioned in the 13th century. Inside, the chapel has exceptional Rococo stucco work on the barrel vault dating from 1745. The parish church of Sint-Martinus is also of historical interest: it was first mentioned in 1141 in a charter issued by Duke Godfrey III of Brabant. Its incorporated western tower contains a probably Romanesque core dating from the 12th century.

Paleis op de heide is a modernist building from the interwar period. The brasserie and the park surrounding the sanatorium near Paleis op de heide are freely accessible. Belle Époque buildings stand on the shores of Lake Meer van Overijse-Genval; the lake area is accessible year-round. This allows you to include cultural impressions, architecture and time by the water in your plans.

Choose the right base

Accommodation in Overijse is particularly suited to your plans if you want to combine different ideas for each day: walks through the IJse Valley, viticulture experiences at Dru!f and Soniën, active routes in Zuidflank or historical sightseeing. When choosing, consider which of these focuses are important for your trip and whether you are planning a varied daily rhythm or individual, longer explorations.

Discover more places

If you would like to expand your search to include other places, you can also look at Boortmeerbeek, Drogenbos, Willebringen, Lillois-Witterzée, Ittre, Holsbeek, Asse and Chaumont-Gistoux.

For the overarching travel overview: Brabant.