Discover Gellik: Culture, Hiking Trails and Nature

Gellik is located along the historic military road between Tongeren and Nijmegen, as well as at the transition from Vochtig-Haspengouw to the Kempen region. This connection shapes the character of the village: within a compact thematic area, architectural history, memorial sites along the Albert Canal and varied hiking landscapes come together. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Gellik, you can therefore plan your trip around whether culture, nature or active days should be the main focus.

Church, Motte and Tithe Barn

A prominent part of the village’s history is the Sint-Laurentius Church. The present church in Gellik is a Neo-Gothic basilica built between 1913 and 1915, replacing an older church on the same site. For those interested in ecclesiastical architectural history, not only the style but also the development of the village through several church buildings is noteworthy.

The In de Burg motte is a reminder of an earlier form of fortification. Today, it lies beneath a pasture and is visible only as a small, circular elevation of no more than 0.5 metres. Because of its historical value, it has been protected as a monument since 1 March 1978. The Tithe Barn is also part of Gellik’s history; its building dates from the first half of the 17th century. It was probably connected with the former Munsterbilzen Abbey, which owned the tithe rights to Gellik.

Traces along the Albert Canal

Further historical themes can be discovered along the Albert Canal. The steel railway bridge in Gellik crossing the Albert Canal is a Vierendeel bridge, has a span of 112.5 metres and was designed in 1937. Oeverbunker 2 is one of the surviving bunkers of the 1930s bunker line along the canal. Mitrailleurbunker B was built in 1939 as part of the defensive line along the country’s eastern border and the Albert Canal.

The history of water and milling is represented here as well. The Krieckaertmolen was a historic water-powered grain mill on the Munsterbeek, also known as the Molenbeek. The Molenweg in Gellik commemorates this mill. Together with the structures along the canal, it provides an insight into various periods of local and regional history, without implying that they form a single circular route.

Hikes in Different Formats

For active days on holiday, the Lieteberg hiking area, accessible from Gellik, is well worth considering. It includes forests, hay meadows, juniper scrub, a designated quiet area and the transition to Haspengouw. One specific option is the red-marked, 10.1-kilometre Lieteberg hike starting from Hoefaert. It leads through the forest, through the village of Gellik and along the Albert Canal. Take this route into account when planning your day.

In addition, guided health walks are offered in Gellik as group walks lasting around 30 minutes. This allows you to choose between a longer signposted hike and a considerably shorter guided format. Which option is suitable depends on the interests and preferred pace of your travel group; the two details should be considered separately and do not describe the same route.

Natural Landscapes and Accommodation to Suit Your Travel Plans

The Zwarte Put quiet area can be explored via hiking trails in Hoge Kempen National Park with starting points in Gellik. If you are mainly looking to plan nature experiences when searching for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can consider Gellik as a base for such hiking destinations. If you are more interested in local history, you should instead include the Sint-Laurentius Church, the In de Burg motte, the Tithe Barn and the historic traces along the Albert Canal in your daily itinerary.

There is a municipal bicycle repair station on Kerkstraat for minor repairs to bicycles and e-bikes. This practical detail may also play a role when choosing an accommodation area if you would like to explore Gellik by bicycle. For comparison with another destination, you can also include Rekem in your travel plans.

For the broader travel overview: Lanaken.