Ronse between Textile History and Muziekbos

Ronse combines an impressive urban history with a landscape that can be explored on hiking and cycling routes. The city’s textile history, the Sint-Hermes Basilica and the traditions surrounding its patron saint are central attractions. At the same time, Muziekbos reveals another side of Ronse: woodland, unpaved paths and a viewpoint overlooking the Trosbeek valley. If you are planning a trip with different interests, you can choose between cultural experiences in the city and active days in the surrounding area.

Textile History and Historic Sites in Ronse

Hoge Mote is a restored 17th-century canon’s house in the historic heart of Ronse. The complex is home to the MUST textile museum, which explains the influence of the textile industry on the city’s development. The museum also shows how architecture, culture and art flourished in Ronse as a result of the thriving textile industry. This makes the city’s history tangible not only through individual buildings, but also through the economic development of the area.

At the Hoge Mote visitor and experience centre, you can learn about Sint-Hermes, the development of Ronse and the textile industry through interactive panels, audio stories, films and virtual reality. These different forms of presentation allow you to tailor your visit to your interests: you can explore historical connections in greater depth or gain an initial understanding through engaging media.

The Sint-Hermes Basilica is also located in the centre of Ronse and features a monumental crypt dating from 1089. For more than 1,000 years, pilgrims from near and far have come to Sint-Hermes to seek help with mental illnesses. The basilica therefore represents a long-standing religious and social tradition in the city. A cycling route starts in the centre of Ronse, near the Sint-Hermes Basilica with its unique Romanesque crypt.

Fiertelommegang: a Living City Tradition

The Fiertelommegang takes place every year on the first Sunday after Pentecost, Trinity Sunday. During the procession, the shrine containing the relics of the city’s patron saint, Sint-Hermes, is carried for approximately 32.6 kilometres along the boundaries of Ronse. The procession presents the history of Sint-Hermes and the city through music, text, decorated floats and numerous performers in historical clothing.

Muziekbos and Paths through the Landscape

For a scenic counterpoint to the city’s history, consider the Muziekbos hiking route. It starts at Kanarieberg, leads for 10 kilometres through Muziekbos and the surrounding region, and ends back at the starting point. The route follows unpaved roads and paths. Take these conditions into account when planning your hiking day and choose your equipment according to the planned route.

Muziekbos contains more than 100 hectares of flowering woodland on the region’s best-known witness hill. The 148-metre-high Muziekberg offers views over the Trosbeek valley. This allows you to combine a stay in the woodland with a specific landscape highlight, without limiting your plans to a purely urban visit. The municipalities of Ellezelles, Flobecq and Ronse have also converted an old railway line into a green route for relaxed walking and cycling.

Ronse as a Starting Point for Your Travel Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment or other accommodation in Ronse, it is worth first deciding on the focus of your trip. Those primarily interested in museums, urban history and religious culture can orient themselves around the sites near Hoge Mote and the Sint-Hermes Basilica. Those wishing to include Muziekbos, the 10-kilometre hiking route or the green route in their plans should structure their days more around paths and landscapes. As the cultural and scenic experiences offer different travel focuses, you can choose the right holiday apartment according to your preferred holiday pace and planned activities.

You can find more places for your travel plans here: Zottegem, Stekene, Laarne, Buggenhout, Sint-Laureins, Hamme, Waasmunster, Kruishoutem.

To the overarching travel overview: East Flanders.