Westouter: Nature, Culture and Special Excursions

Westouter combines varied landscapes with remarkable buildings and special excursion ideas. Hellegatbos on the slope of Rodeberg, historic religious buildings, a wooden windmill and paths through the vineyards give your stay different points of focus. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Westouter, you can therefore decide primarily whether you would like to focus on nature, culture, shared experiences or a mixture of these.

Forest, Gorge and Vineyards

Hellegatbos lies on the slope of Rodeberg and covers approximately 52 hectares. It offers diverse nature and sweeping views. Between Vidaigneberg and Rodeberg, the Hellegat also stretches out: an 8-hectare wooded gorge with different tree species and an area rich in springs. At the foot of the hill, a thick layer of clay emerges, from which several springs rise.

In spring, wood anemones and wild hyacinths create a carpet of white and blue hues in Hellegatbos. If you enjoy combining your stay with a walk through a wine-growing landscape, you can plan the Entre-Deux-Monts route. The free, informative walk is approximately 6 km long and leads through and around the vineyards. Entre-Deux-Monts's wine selection includes sparkling wines, white wines, rosé wines and fortified wines.

The wider regional landscape is also characterised by striking elevations. These include the centrally located witness hills of Vidaigneberg, Rodeberg, Scherpenberg and Monteberg-Kemmelberg. The Cordoba cable car offers views of the Heuvelland and the Entre-Deux-Monts vineyards. Its 700-metre route connects Vidaigneberg and Baneberg; it was built in 1957 by an Austrian company, or by Austrian Alpine specialists.

Historical Places in Westouter

Lijstermolen is a wooden post mill with an open substructure and is used as a grain mill. It is a protected monument; this protection has been in place since 29 October 2004. At the same time, Lijstermolen on Baneberg is a tourist attraction. This makes it a tangible point of interest for anyone who wants to combine technology, regional history and landscape when planning their trip.

Westouter's cultural heritage also includes the Lourdes Grotto at Rodebergstraat 23, a pilgrimage site. Sint-Eligius Church began as a Romanesque cruciform church and developed into a Gothic hall church. It was badly damaged during the First World War; after the damage, only the Romanesque tower remained more or less intact. Its architectural history makes the church an interesting destination for visitors who want to discover Westouter through its historical development as well.

Excursions at Different Paces

The Tweebergenpad initially leads from Westouter over Sulferberg and Rodeberg, with their valuable and varied vegetation. Speelbos De Kosmos offers a different type of excursion. It features numerous play elements and an amphitheatre. Tunnels and slides lead from a small playground to a play hollow.

The completed De Meersen project also includes an adventure play area for children and young people. In Hellegatbos, the treasure hunt “Dader gezocht in het Hellegatbos” enables children to explore the area. When planning, you can therefore choose between observing nature, an informative walk and active play opportunities, without making every day the same.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Stay?

When looking for accommodation in Westouter, it is worth considering the daily rhythm you want. Nature enthusiasts can take the paths, Hellegatbos and viewpoints into account as key themes. For culture-focused trips, Lijstermolen, the Lourdes Grotto and Sint-Eligius Church are the main attractions. Those travelling with children can also include the treasure hunt, Speelbos De Kosmos and the adventure play area when selecting excursions. A holiday apartment or holiday home is therefore particularly interesting as an individual base for your personal combination of landscape, history and activities.

For more travel ideas, you can also take a look at Kemmel, Nieuwkerke, Wijtschate, Loker and Dranouter.

For the overarching travel overview: Heuvelland.