Discover Appels: Churches, Trails and Water Landscapes

Appels appeals to travellers who want to combine experiences in nature with sacred art and history. Between the Oude Schelde, distinctive walking trails and protected buildings, a diverse destination takes shape: you can explore church art, walk along the water or discover a landscape whose present-day character is closely connected to its former use.

Discover Church Art and History

The Sint-Appoloniakerk is a protected monument. The present-day church preserves the sandstone choir of the former church. The new Sint-Appoloniakerk was consecrated by Cardinal de Franckenberg on 25 August 1788. Inside, there are also 14 Stations of the Cross by Emmanuel Franciscus Verhas, dating from 1835–1836. This gives the church several specific points of interest for a visit shaped by cultural history.

Another destination is the Sint-Antoniuskapel. Its coloured leaded-glass windows and a polychrome portrait of Saint Anthony add distinctive accents. The chapel is a freestanding wayside chapel and, according to tradition, was built in 1933. Appelsveer is also part of the area's history: the name was already mentioned in a document in 1253. The wooden pontoon and the iron footbridge at Appelsveer were protected as monuments in 2004.

Walking along the Oude Schelde

The Oude Schelde is a former meander of the Scheldt that remained after an artificial separation at the end of the 19th century. After years of silting up, open water was restored there in 2002. This development makes the area interesting for anyone who wants to perceive a landscape not only as a backdrop, but also in terms of its historical changes.

Two named walking options are available for orientation: the “Ontdek Appels” route begins at the Sint-Apolloniakerk in Appels, as does the “Ontdek Appels Natuur” route. You can walk freely around the woodland area bordering the Oude Schelde. A wooden boardwalk along the Oude Schelde helps walkers keep their feet dry. At the end of the walk, a hand-pulled ferry takes walkers back across the Oude Schelde to the starting point.

Natural Areas and Excursion Choices

De Maey is also part of the area's natural profile. The nature area lies in the Sint-Onolfspolder on the new left bank of the Dender and covers more than 4 hectares. Anyone who wants to alternate between culture and nature while planning their trip will find different themes for organising the day: church interiors and art on the one hand, water, woodland and nature areas on the other.

The Appels–Berlare ferry provides a free crossing. This can be an option in its own right when planning your trip if you also want to explore the surroundings across the water. The various paths and places should not be combined into a single circular walk: both routes start at the Sint-Apolloniakerk, while a separate walk with a hand-pulled ferry is possible at the Oude Schelde.

The Right Accommodation for Your Stay

When looking for a holiday apartment in Appels, it is worth first deciding on your preferred focus. Those primarily seeking church art, historical details and cultural discoveries can include the Sint-Appoloniakerk, the Sint-Antoniuskapel and Appelsveer in their plans. For nature-focused days, the Oude Schelde, the adjacent woodland, De Maey and the named walking routes provide useful points of orientation. Your accommodation should suit the pace you want to set for these different discoveries, without inferring any specific facilities or distances from this.

If you would like to compare other local pages, you can also visit Schoonaarde. For Appels itself, the combination of protected church art, waterscapes and nature trails leads to a clear travel decision: choose the location if you want to combine impressions of cultural history with walks through changing landscapes.

For the overarching travel overview: Dendermonde.