Zomergem between the Lieve, cultural heritage and cycling routes

Zomergem combines a rich history of rivers and canals with protected buildings and varied routes. The village centre lies on a 22-metre-high hill and is laid out around the market square. For planning your trip, this creates an interesting mix of local history, a puzzle experience and cycling activities.

The Lieve and historic Zomergem

The Lieve is a historic inland shipping canal. It was constructed between 1251 and 1269 from Ghent to Damme, originally as far as Aardenburg, and experienced its heyday in the 13th and 14th centuries. The course of the Lieve, with the towpath on the right in Zomergem, Evergem, Lovendegem and Waarschoot, is protected as a monument. Anyone interested in waterways, trade and the development of historic landscapes will find a tangible connection to the history of the area here.

The Sint-Martinus Church is also a protected monument. It is a three-aisled hall church with an early Gothic square crossing tower and was largely rebuilt between 1921 and 1923. The Sint-Rochus Chapel was built in 1920 because of the cattle plague that was raging at the time. Together with the village centre around the market square, this creates a historic focal point that you can take into account during a culture-focused stay in Zomergem. The exact character of your holiday apartment can be sensibly matched to how you want to spend your days: would you mainly like to get to know the village and its history, or include various routes in your travel plans?

Puzzle tour and special discoveries

An unusual way to get to know Zomergem’s heritage is the family tour “Ontmasker de geest van Zomergem” in the ErfgoedApp. It takes visitors on a puzzle hunt in which they solve the mystery of a restless ghost while learning about the heritage and history of Zomergem. The tour is particularly appealing to travellers who want to experience historical topics as a shared task rather than simply read about them. For families with children of different ages, such a discovery idea can offer a different element of the day than a purely sightseeing-focused activity.

Routes for different daily itineraries

The green loop of the Loopomloop Zomergem is a signposted 12.4 km circular route. It starts at Den Boer sports hall and offers a clearly defined route for a day on which you want to experience Zomergem from an active perspective. The Lieve Route is longer, at 26 km, and follows the Flemish cycling network as a circular cycling route. It connects the historic village centres of Lovendegem, Waarschoot and Zomergem.

The Lieve Route is flat and mostly paved. Its cycling nodes are clearly signposted, which helps with navigation. When comparing the two options, you can therefore plan according to route length and your preferred way of getting around, without treating the two routes as equivalent. On the De Lieve cycling route, you can take a break about halfway through in Zomergem at 't Zoet Gemoed, a café with a terrace and menu. In Zomergem, the Lieve flows into the Schipdonk Canal, adding another geographical reference to the historic view of the water landscape.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Zomergem, it is worth deciding on your preferred pace first. Those interested in culture can focus on the village centre, the protected monuments and the history of the Lieve. If you prefer travelling by bicycle, the 12.4 km green loop and the 26 km Lieve Route offer different points of reference for planning your days. The puzzle tour adds a playful experience to these options.

This means Zomergem remains versatile even when interests change: one day can be devoted to the local history and the Sint-Martinus Church, and another to the Lieve, the Schipdonk Canal or a cycling loop. Choose your accommodation according to the type of trip you are looking for, and use the experiences described as a guide for your further planning.

More places to consider

If you would like to extend your travel plans beyond Zomergem, you can also take a look at Berlare, Kluisbergen, Deinze, Herzele, Buggenhout, Sint-Martens-Latem, Ghent or Leopoldsburg.

For the overview of the wider region: East Flanders.