Zottegem: Egmont Heritage, Parks and Trails

Zottegem offers different ways to explore history and landscape: archaeological traces in Egmont Park, historical objects in the Egmontkamer, an English landscape park, and routes for walking and cycling. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can first decide what you would most like to experience. This will help you plan whether to devote your days mainly to Egmont heritage, a walk among trees and ponds, or longer routes.

Egmont heritage in different places

The Egmontkamer in the town hall tells the story of the relationship between Lamoraal and Zottegem through historical objects. The Egmont story also includes the crypt beneath the deanery church; it is regularly included in tourist excursions around the Egmont city. Zottegem’s Egmont statues are located in the market square and in Egmont Park. Together, these places represent different forms of remembrance: historical objects, a site beneath the church, and sculptures in public spaces.

Egmont Park also features archaeological remains of the castle chapel, the rampart, and the former drawbridge. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Hemelvaartkerk offers another historical connection: its origins date back to the 12th century, and its distinctive campanile dates from 1750. For those interested in culture, the focus is on both architectural traces and individual objects and monuments.

Parks, marshy meadows and trails

Domein Breivelde is an English landscape park with an arboretum. You can stroll among ponds, fountains and exotic trees. The park offers a different way to discover Zottegem from the sites associated with Egmont history: here, the focus is on designed landscapes and a variety of trees.

The Jan de Lichte area offers a natural setting for walking: it is a marshy meadow along the Molenbeek and the Jan de Lichte walking trail. A trail also provides a point of reference in the Middenloop Zwalm nature reserve: the Mijnwerkerspad crosses the entire area as a walking and cycling route. It was laid along the paved section of the former Zottegem–Brakel–Ellezelles railway line.

Four networks of waymarked routes using the junction system lead through Zottegem: Zwalmvallei, Bronbossen, Tussen Zwalm en Dender and Dendervallei Zuid. Their names offer different points of reference for planning. If you would prefer a longer cycling tour, the 30-kilometre, hilly Egmontroute is another option. It passes various places associated with the ill-fated Count Egmont.

The waymarked “Viae Romanae” route also links a specific journey with historical content: it runs from Paddestraat in Velzeke to Bavay in France. Milestones along the route explain the Gallo-Roman world. The routes therefore differ not only in how you travel, but also in their focus—from landscapes and nature to historical themes.

Visitor information for planning

When choosing a holiday rental, it may help to decide first what kind of days you have in mind: cultural explorations, walks in the park, or walking and cycling tours. The places and routes mentioned here offer different starting points for your plans.

The carillon tower in Zottegem is currently closed to visitors for safety reasons. Check the latest information before your visit; conditions may change after the renovation. The former Brouwerij De Klok is now a private residence and can only be viewed from the outside. Here too, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Oombergen, Deinze, Ursel, Ninove, Kluisbergen, Sint-Gillis-Waas, Ghent and Geraardsbergen.

Back to the regional travel overview: East Flanders.