Zonhoven: Nature, History and Special Discoveries

Zonhoven combines a varied natural experience with traces of a multifaceted history. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a trip, you can shape your days entirely around your interests: the de Teut nature reserve appeals to hiking enthusiasts, while the church, town hall and fortified farmsteads offer insights into the past. There are also special destinations such as the Vandeput freshwater fish farm and the Holsteen.

Nature and Trails in Zonhoven

The de Teut nature reserve is a hiking area with diverse natural surroundings. It lies on the edge of the Kempen Plateau and offers a panoramic view from there. This gives you a clear choice when planning your day between spending time in nature and exploring the cultural themes that also shape Zonhoven. Those who would like to include the Rendierjagerspad in their stay can do so. Admission is free; visiting hours are daily from sunrise to sunset.

When choosing your accommodation, you can take your preferred travel pace into account. If you enjoy planning longer periods outdoors, a day in nature can take centre stage. If you would like to combine different interests, you can add historical discoveries and an insight into local fish farming to your stay. This kind of division is also interesting for families who do not want to do the same thing every day, without requiring any particular programme.

Church, Town Hall and Historic Fortified Farmsteads

The St. Quintinus Church was completed in 1788 and is an example of Neoclassicism. Its tower probably dates from the 14th century. The Old Town Hall of Zonhoven was also completed in 1788. Zonhoven was the first municipality in Belgium to build its own town hall during the Ancien Régime. Those interested in architectural history will therefore find several different points of interest here: a church with neoclassical influences, a probably older church tower and a town hall with a special place in the history of the municipality.

The fortified farmsteads also tell stories of earlier times. The Vranckenschans, also known as Donckseschans, is the only one of the four fortified farmsteads in the municipality of Zonhoven that is still in fairly good condition. It lies in marshy terrain and is surrounded by a deep ditch and a vegetation-covered earthen rampart. The Kolverenschans was built around 1604 by the local farming population for protection against roving gangs and armies during the Eighty Years' War. It remained in use until after 1713 and is still recognisable in the landscape today as a well-preserved archaeological site.

Special Experiences for Planning Your Trip

At the Vandeput freshwater fish farm, a guide explains how fish farming originated and how the fish-farming operation works. Group visits are possible year-round except on Sundays. This makes it an option for travellers who would like to include an insight into a specific operation alongside the landscape and history. Another unusual detail is the Holsteen: prehistoric farmers used it to polish their flint axes.

When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore consider which focus should shape your trip. To select further destinations, you can also take a look at Maasmechelen, Bilzen, Lommel, Hasselt, Opglabbeek, Wijer, Meeuwen-Gruitrode and Hechtel-Eksel.

For the overarching travel overview: Limburg.