Discover Waarschoot

Waarschoot combines remarkable architectural and industrial history with wooded landscapes, historic waterways, and hiking and cycling experiences. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth considering whether you primarily want to discover culture, follow a route through the landscape, or combine both. A holiday apartment or holiday home in Waarschoot can serve as a base for differently structured days during your holiday.

Historic places and special buildings

At Kasteeldomein op de Dam, a castle stands in a surrounding park. It was built in 1900 by C. Vervier as a replacement for the country house “Damzicht”, which had been built around 1840. Another estate shapes the town centre: De Schepper lies opposite the parish church and is characterised by a largely preserved moat around the country house. The estate includes, among other things, a monumental entrance gate, a gardener’s house on the site of the former coach houses, an extensive tree-filled garden with a notable weeping beech, and a so-called motte with a workers’ house and barn.

The Parochiekerk Sint-Ghislenus offers several historical points of interest. Its tower has been protected as a monument since 28 December 1936. The church also contains a pulpit created in 1666 by J. Van Daele from Ghent, richly decorated with carved busts. At the entrance, a war memorial unveiled in 1928 commemorates the fallen and forcibly deported people of Waarschoot. The local history also includes the chapel of the Klooster van Waarschoot, begun in 1866 in the neo-Gothic style according to designs by J. Bethune and consecrated on 12 May 1868, as well as the former priory house of the Priorij Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Hove. This is also known by the names “Onzer Vrouwenhove”, “Kloostergoed” and “Rattenkasteel”, and is the last surviving part of the former monastery founded in the forests of Waarschoot in 1444.

Forests, canal history and industrial heritage

Those who value landscapes and historical connections when choosing accommodation will find several different points of interest in Waarschoot. The 75-hectare Stuiverbossen have belonged to the provincial estate “Het Leen” since 1973, which also extends across the municipalities of Eeklo and Oostwinkel. The name Bellebargiebos recalls medieval cargo barges that transported peat, salt and cloth to Ghent via the Burggravenstroom. De Lieve also points to the former importance of water transport: the medieval canal was dug between 1251 and 1269 to connect Ghent with Damme and the North Sea.

The local history includes the Priorij Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Hove, founded in 1444, a lime tree with a legend and Marian chapel, as well as evidence of the industrial heritage. The Priorij Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Hove played an important role in developing the woodland and marshland. At a crossroads stands the “Bevende Hazelaar”, a lime tree associated with a legend and a Marian chapel. The protected factory chimney of S.A.W. is a surviving testimony to the industrial heritage. The historic buildings of Villa Van Ackere, also known as “Villa Rosebud”, illustrate Waarschoot’s textile past.

Hiking and cycling according to your preferred route length

For an active day plan, the Sint-Maurus walks start at Sint-Mauruskerk in the hamlet of Beke in Waarschoot. They offer variants of 7, 9 and 11 km. This selection allows you to take your preferred route length into account when planning, without having to commit to a single route. Those who prefer to travel by bicycle can make a note of the 26 km Lieveroute. The cycling loop follows the Flemish cycling node network and connects Lovendegem, Waarschoot and Zomergem.

When searching for a holiday apartment in Waarschoot, you can therefore weigh up different holiday priorities: the town centre combines church, castle and industrial history, while the forests and the routes mentioned suggest other day plans. For families with different interests, the cultural themes and the various route lengths provide plenty to discuss when planning together. The key factor is which experiences you want to put at the centre of your trip and which accommodation location suits this travel plan.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to expand your travel plans beyond Waarschoot, here are more destinations at the same destination level: Ronse, Nazareth, Deinze, Aalter, Wachtebeke, Buggenhout, Gavere and Melle.

To the higher-level travel overview: East Flanders.