Discover Avelgem: Cycle Paths, Scheldemeersen and Culture

Avelgem combines landscapes, cycling culture and unusual cultural sites to create a destination offering many different impressions. South and southeast of the town centre lie the Avelgemse meersen. Those wishing to combine nature and activity will also find several signposted trails, circular routes and cycle routes. Historic buildings, a regional museum, farm products and distinctive works of art also give the trip a cultural and local dimension.

Walking Trails between the Scheldt and the Meersen

There are various formats to choose from for a walk. The Mira walking route is 12.2 km long and starts at Kerk Avelgem. The Droge voetenpad covers 6 km and starts and ends at Coupure Deweer at Meersstraat 45 in Avelgem. In the Scheldemeersen, the fully signposted Natuurleerpad and the fully signposted Drogevoetenpad also begin at the Natuurpunt Avelgem information board. The different routes help you plan your day according to length and focus.

Cycle Tours with Different Focuses

Avelgem is also well suited as a destination for a cycling trip. The 35 km-long Leie-Schelderoute starts at the Pompgebouw van Bossuit. The Boerenhoven mountain bike route also starts there, with three loops of approximately 38 km each. If you prefer to plan several shorter circular rides, you can use the “Hoeves met verhalen” cycling map as a guide. It offers three circular loops of approximately 20 km each, as well as information on possible rest stops, bicycle repair points, catering establishments, places selling regional products and picnic spots. The Fietsnetwerk Leiestreek passes through Avelgem; maps are available at Spikkerelle. The municipality also lists local providers offering e-bike rentals.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Avelgem, it is worth first deciding on the pace of travel you want. For extended days of cycling, the various circular routes and the information on the cycling maps are particularly interesting. If you would like to alternate walks, nature observation and culture, you can plan the walking trails, the Avelgemse meersen and the historic sites as different day-trip ideas. This allows you to choose your accommodation according to the character of your trip and not just the place name.

Historic Sites and Unusual Art

The Oude Pompgebouw van Bossuit dates from 1860. It originally housed heavy steam engines that pumped water from the Scheldt into the Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal. The Scheldeburcht in what is now Kasteelstraat was first mentioned in 1202 and has been protected as a monument since 20 February 1939. The streetscape of the historic town centre also tells of the past: the street pattern of the historic town centre includes the cobbled Kerkstraat as well as Doorniksesteenweg, Oudenaardsesteenweg, Leopoldstraat, Kasteelstraat and D. Vermandereplein. This street pattern is already shown on the Ferraris map from 1770 to 1778.

The former Sint Amelbergakerk offers a particularly distinctive cultural perspective. In 2013, artist Ellen Harvey transformed it into a work of art. KARKAS is an approximately 27-metre-long, life-size metal skeleton that lies somewhere between a submarine and a whale. The collection at the Regionaal Archeologisch Museum aan de Schelde focuses on objects from the Stone Age, the Roman period and the Merovingian period. The former industrial spinning mill complex Spinnerij Leurent, also known as De Groote Fabrieke, was built in 1907 for French industrialist Henri Leurent to designs by Liétard and Forest from Tourcoing and is protected as a monument.

Local Experiences and Regional Products

Smaller, characterful experiences are also part of Avelgem's local culture. The Tombeelmolen turns and grinds on the first and last Sunday afternoon of every month from April to October. The ground floor houses a cosy old-fashioned café serving drinks and pancakes made with Tombeel flour. Farm products are offered at the Bouvriehoeve; guided tours of the red deer farm are also available. This allows you to incorporate historic technology, regional cuisine and agricultural impressions into your travel plans.

For further orientation, you can also find Kerkhove, Izegem, Loppem, Lo-Reninge, Ingelmunster, Zonnebeke, Poperinge and Hooglede.

For the broader travel overview: West Flanders.