Merelbeke: Discover Nature, Trails and Culture

Merelbeke brings together landscapes, culture and family-friendly discoveries within a compact thematic area. Those planning a trip with nature experiences and cultural impressions will find various points of interest here: wet meadows and stream landscapes, woodland paths, historic buildings and activities for children. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is worth first considering whether you would prefer to shape your stay around walks, nature observation, culture or shared family experiences.

Historical traces and culture in Merelbeke

The history of the area stretches far back: archaeological finds testify to Merelbeke having been inhabited since the Palaeolithic. The old main road from Ghent to Geraardsbergen and Oudenaarde is also part of the historic townscape. It crosses Merelbeke from north to south and is now known as Hundelgemsesteenweg; the road was straightened in 1839.

An important cultural landmark is the Sint-Elooiskapel. It is a protected monument and was built in the Baroque style in the 18th century. Those interested in sacred architecture and regional history can include this site in their travel plans without focusing their stay exclusively on museums or indoor spaces. Cultuurhuis complements Merelbeke's cultural offering as a venue for theatre, film, music and workshops. Regular exhibitions and expos featuring local artists are also held there.

Woodland, wet meadows and trails

Gentbos is a 28-hectare provincial area in Merelbeke and Bottelare. Its character is shaped by a natural swamp forest with marshy areas, impressive beeches and oaks, as well as open spaces. This gives the area a variety of landscapes within a single outing: woodland sections alternate with more open stretches. A natural play area where children can climb and build shelters from branches also makes Gentbos a hands-on destination for families.

The Gondebeekvallei presents a different landscape. Its open wet-meadow landscape, with rows of pollard willows and sections of woodland along the stream, is an important habitat for amphibians. A walk through the Gondebeekvallei can be started via the Stationswegel in Gontrode or via Neerstraat in Merelbeke. These two named starting points help you plan your walk according to the preferred starting side.

Family experiences and specific starting points

For an outing with children, the Kinderboerderij 't Bakkershof offers clear guidance on opening times. It is located at Kastijdestraat 15, 9820 Merelbeke, is freely accessible on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at all other times by appointment. Plan your visit accordingly, taking this access arrangement into account.

The Merelbekkers can be found along four different routes in the Makegemse bossen. The walking routes are suitable for families with children between 3 and 12 years old. In addition, the Merelbekkersroute starts next to Brasserie de Zoete Zonde, Bosstraat 2, 9820 Merelbeke. This allows you to choose between a family-oriented route experience and the natural and woodland landscapes in the surrounding area.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

A holiday apartment in Merelbeke can serve as a base for a stay combining culture and nature. For a more nature-focused day, Gentbos or Gondebeekvallei offer different landscape experiences. Another day plan could combine historical impressions, Cultuurhuis and then a route in the Makegemse bossen. As the destinations mentioned have their own starting points and distinctive features, when searching for accommodation you should pay particular attention to which experiences are to be at the centre of your trip. For more places to include in your travel plans, you can also view Knesselare, Ninove, Ronse, Evergem, Oudenaarde, Kruishoutem, Hoeselt and Erpe-Mere.

For the overarching travel overview: East Flanders.