Discover Kerkhove: the Scheldt, village history and archaeology

Kerkhove combines the character of a village on the Scheldt with a rich history. The village centre lies on the left bank of the river, at the edge of the actual river valley. At the same time, Kerkhove has a marina built in a former branch of the Scheldt. Anyone planning a trip combining culture, landscapes and historical discoveries will find a place here whose distinctive features can be explored step by step.

Between the Scheldt riverbank and early settlement history

Kerkhove has a long history. Traces of a small Merovingian settlement and a burial ground were discovered here. They are regarded as the first settlement traces from this period ever discovered in Belgium. For families and other travellers who seek historical themes beyond major cities, this find offers a tangible insight into the region’s early settlement history.

Kerkhove Stuw is also one of the archaeologically interesting sites. Several ditches were discovered there during investigations. Based on several carbon datings, they can be attributed to the period of a nearby mansio. A mansio was a large road station as well as a regional administrative and logistical centre, usually built at the intersection of land and waterways. The Regionaal Archeologisch Museum A/D Schelde presents the settlement history of the Scheldt Valley from prehistory to the early Middle Ages. It is located at Kerkhove’s prehistoric, Roman and Merovingian archaeological site.

Village church, cemetery and historic farmsteads

A separate tour through the local history leads to Kerkhove cemetery. It was originally located beside the parish church demolished in 1867, near a cut-off meander of the Scheldt. In the centre of the cemetery stands a chapel in the shade of two beech trees; it contains the gravestones of Kerkhove’s parish priests. An imposing tomb monument also commemorates the Plateau-Wassenhove family, from which two mayors came.

The historic village street Oude Plaats runs in a slight curve from Oudenaardsesteenweg to the Scheldt. The Sint-Amanduskerk stood at its Scheldt end until 1867. The present Sint-Amanduskerk was built between 1865 and 1867 to a design by the Bruges-born architect Verbeke. This Neo-Gothic church has the floor plan of a cruciform basilica with an asymmetrically positioned west tower.

The local rural history also includes Voldersveldhoeve. Its gatehouse and farmhouse are protected as monuments. The farmhouse dates from the late 16th century. Particularly striking is the monumental entrance gate made of brick beneath a tiled gabled roof, supported by two pilasters on each side with natural-stone capitals.

Choosing accommodation to match your travel idea

When looking for a holiday apartment in Kerkhove, you can make your own travel idea the starting point. If you are interested in archaeology and church history, the museum, cemetery, Oude Plaats and Sint-Amanduskerk can form the cultural focus. Those who want to experience the river landscape more fully can explore the village centre on the Scheldt and the former branch of the Scheldt with its marina. For a trip with children, the Merovingian traces, museum and distinctive buildings offer vivid topics to discover and discuss together.

At Heye, two upright-growing beech trees frame a chapel symmetrically. It commemorates the former church at this site and adds another quiet accent to the landscape. A holiday apartment in Kerkhove is especially suitable for travellers who want to shape their stay around these specific discoveries.

To the main travel overview: Avelgem.