Discover Gingelom: Tumuli, Trails and History

Gingelom combines Roman traces, varied hiking trails and a landscape of rolling fields and regularly spaced fruit trees. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can therefore choose the location according to their own travel interests: the focus can be on historical discoveries, outdoor activities, museums or regional traditions.

Roman History and Special Experiences

A defining feature of Gingelom is its Roman burial mounds. Six tumuli are spread across three archaeological sites and date from the 2nd century AD. The Avernassetom is 7.8 metres high and has a diameter of 23 metres. A guided horse-drawn wagon tour to the tumuli can be booked in cooperation with the Gallo-Romeins Museum and Hoeve Jadoul. The tumuli horse-drawn wagon tour is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs. This makes it possible to explore the Roman past as a shared activity that accommodates different needs.

The House 1942 and the Winter 1944 Museum offer further insights into the history of the 20th century. House 1942 features a realistic reconstruction of the life and work of a German soldier during the Second World War in an authentic residential building. Visitors can see six scenes as well as a shelter cellar with lighting and sound effects. The Winter 1944 Museum presents realistic dioramas, original objects and thousands of authentic items from the wartime period. The two locations focus on different aspects and can therefore be included in travel planning according to personal interests.

Hiking Trails Between Villages and Landscapes

For active days, the Cicindria hiking area offers three circular routes measuring 5.5, 6 and 6.5 kilometres. The Cicindria rises in Jeuk and flows towards Sint-Truiden through Borlo, Buvingen and Muizen. Along the way, it passes through wide landscapes with rolling fields and fruit trees arranged in regular rows. The different route lengths provide clear guidance for planning the day without requiring you to commit to just one type of trail.

The signposted Chokier Route also connects several historical points of interest. It starts at the town hall and passes the memorial stone of Baron Surlet de Chokier behind Sint-Pieter's Church, as well as Kamerijckhoeve and Gingelom Castle. The castle estate of Baron Erasmus Louis Surlet de Chokier covers an approximately 27-hectare castle park and park woodland area in the continental landscape style. Those wishing to discover another signposted route can choose “Favourite Places in Niel”, a 7.5-kilometre hiking route to historic buildings, viewpoints, sunken lanes and green spaces. In Boekhout, the 5.2-kilometre village walk “Discover the Village” leads to historic buildings, viewpoints, special village figures and unique events.

Village Centre, Regional Specialities and Festivals

The parish church of Sint-Petrus, a neo-Gothic cruciform church dating from 1891–1892, stands in the village centre. It adds a striking local landmark to Gingelom's historical points of interest. A regional speciality is Tumulusbrood, an artisanally baked spelt bread associated with the cultivation of spelt by the Romans in this region. It is available from Bakkerij Latui, Langstraat 85 in Montenaken.

The annual Liberation Celebrations take place in Borlo on the second weekend of September. The programme includes participation by re-enactment groups as well as depictions of life in and around Allied field camps. If you would like to plan your trip for this period, the festival offers a special insight into the region's culture of remembrance.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Gingelom, it is worth deciding on your preferred focus in advance. For a trip with several historical interests, the tumuli, church architecture and the two museums take centre stage. Those who want to spend plenty of time outdoors can include the routes in the Cicindria hiking area, the Chokier Route or the trails in Niel and Boekhout in their plans. The different lengths make it easier to adapt the daily rhythm to your own travel group. Accommodation in Gingelom or a holiday home in the surrounding area can thus be selected according to your preferred holiday theme, without limiting the trip to just one activity.

For further orientation, you can also look at these places: Nieuwerkerken, Dilsen-Stokkem, Bilzen, Kinrooi, Genk, Riemst, Horpmaal and Voeren.

For the overarching travel overview: Limburg.