Discover Sint-Lievens-Esse: Hiking, Brewing Culture and History

Sint-Lievens-Esse combines rural paths, remarkable architectural history and a vibrant brewing tradition. This makes it possible for a travel group with different interests to experience the area in a varied way: a hike leads through the countryside, historical traces tell of former uses, and a tour of Brouwerij Van Den Bossche explains how regional beers are made. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore consider whether hiking, nature, local history or an arranged brewery visit should be the focus of your trip.

Hiking routes for different daily itineraries

The Esseroute starts at Sint-Lievensplein and is marked with purple arrows. You can choose between the 9.9-kilometre route and a shortened 5.3-kilometre version. This gives you two clearly defined options for planning your day, without having to commit to a single route length.

Another perspective is offered by the Sint-Lievens wandelroute. It connects Sint-Antelinks, Sint-Lievens-Esse and Steenhuize-Wijnhuize, passing through forests, across open viewpoints and by numerous wayside chapels. In the village of Sint-Lievens-Esse, it passes Brouwerij Van Den Bossche. A strikingly well-preserved, perfectly straight avenue also connects the former castle site with the vanished windmill in Kauwstraat. Today, it serves as an attractive slow-traffic path and is therefore suitable for a more leisurely historical exploration.

Natural surroundings and traces of the past

The approximately 11-hectare Duivenbos nature area lies in the vicinity of Sint-Lievens-Esse. It is a spring area in a hollow valley where the Ransbeek rises. Those who want to combine nature experiences and local history when planning their trip will find a different focus here than on the longer connecting paths of the Sint-Lievens wandelroute.

No traces of the former water castle of Sint-Lievens-Esse remain today. Its location with moat can be identified near Het Spei by the curved shape of a preserved property boundary on old cadastral maps. The Livinusbron is also one of the village’s historical points of interest: it is marked by a bluestone base and a small brick chapel.

Chapels, monastery and the history of old transport routes

The Heilige Livinuskapel, also known as the Sint-Lievenskapel, stands on a small hill outside the village centre. The neo-Gothic Sint-Lievenskapel was designed in 1907 by Henri Geirnaert from Ghent. The neo-Gothic monastery of Sint-Lievens-Esse was founded nearby around 1870. The monastery and school interior has been almost completely preserved, making the historical character of this complex particularly tangible.

The history of the village also includes the tram station of Sint-Lievens-Esse. It dates from 1911–1912 and was built along the Merelbeke–Geraardsbergen line. The local tram ran through Sint-Lievens-Esse for the last time in 1955. Another precise landmark is the vase-shaped water tower: it is 42.5 metres high and has a diameter of 26 metres at the top.

Brewing tradition with tour and tasting

Brouwerij Van Den Bossche was founded in 1897 by Arthur Van den Bossche and represents a continuing tradition of beer brewing. The Brouwerswoning and Brouwerij Van Den Bossche were built by Arthur Van Den Bossche in 1898; the characteristic self-sufficient configuration of a village brewery from the first half of the 20th century has been preserved.

During a tour, the brewing process is explained from the selection of ingredients through to bottling. Visits take place by appointment, so this activity should be considered separately when planning your trip. Afterwards, the brewery offers a tasting with a selection of its beers, including Pater Lieven Tripel, Buffalo Belgian Stout and Pater Lieven Blond. Buffalo beer was first brewed in 1907, by chance; Pater Lieven was created specifically for the Sint-Livinusfeesten in 1957.

The right accommodation idea

A holiday apartment in Sint-Lievens-Esse is particularly suitable for your plans if you want to divide your days flexibly between hiking routes, natural surroundings, architectural history and brewing culture. What matters is less the longest possible list of destinations than which itinerary suits your group: the shorter Esseroute, an extended hiking connection, historical discoveries or a brewery visit planned by appointment. You can also consider Hillegem as another place to visit.

For the overarching travel overview: Herzele.