De Lieve cycling route

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De Lieve cycling route

Length
40,5 km
Time
3u
Terrain
85% Verhard

Kramershoek 4, 9940 Evergem

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Fietsknooppuntenbord

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De Lieve cycling route

On this route, 't Liefken - as the canal De Lieve is called in the local parlance - takes you on a leisurely trip through the Meetjesland. Over quiet country roads, you'll cycle past imposing castles, wide vistas, and atmospheric village centres.

Starting point

Castle of Wippelgem

Troast.jpg
Troast bij Kasteel van Wippelgem
David Samyn

Are you coming by car to cycle this circuit? Then it's best to park at Wippelgem Castle, a beautiful castle with an adjacent domain covering fully 27 hectares. You can only admire the inside of the castle if you rent it out for events, celebrations, weddings, etc. You can however access the castle grounds from sunrise to sunset, and you can enjoy hiking or biking here.

Bear in mind: Are you starting this route at a different checkpoint? Then you need to deviate a few hundred meters from the route at checkpoint 40 to admire the castle.

Nodes 44-53

EVERGEM

Between checkpoints 44 and 35, you'll cycle through Evergem, where you can satisfy your hunger and quench your thirst at various cafes and restaurants. At bistro De Orangerie, you can eat lunch or something sweet in the afternoon. Or at Novellune, you can have lunch in a lovely setting.

 

Node 23

Castle of Lovendegem

Wegeltje Vinderhoute.JPG
Vinderhoute
't Wegeltje

In Lovendegem, you'll cycle through the stately Kasteeldreef. From afar, you can see Lovendegem Castle appearing. Unfortunately, this impressive castle is not accessible, but even from a distance it's nice to look at.

 

GHENT-BRUGES CANAL

Kanaal Gent-Brugge in Merendree
Merendree
Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen

Between checkpoints 12 and 6, you'll cycle along a lovely stretch on the Ghent-Bruges Canal in Merendree. You'll also pass the Schipdonk Lock, where the Ghent-Bruges Canal crosses with the Schipdonk Canal. You'll find a picnic bench at the lock with impressive views of the water. Enjoy!

Zomergem

About halfway along the route, you can take a break in Zomergem. At 't Zoet Gemoed, for instance, the most well-known coffee house in Zomergem, with its cozy terrace and a appetising menu. This is the place to be to taste the regional pastries, from 3 pm on. The Somerghems apple cake is a local delicacy invented by owner and pastry chef Gert Verschelde.

Nodes 9-30

De Lieve

Lovendegem Haantjen 2.jpg
Lovendegem
David Samyn
Beirtjesbrug Lieve David Samyn.jpg
Beirtjesbrug Lievegem
David Samyn

The highlight of this route is the stretch where you cycle along De Lieve. Did you know that this is the oldest canal in Flanders - and probably even Europe? Vessels from the region used to have to take a detour all the way across the Scheldt to get to the coast. A journey that wasted a lot of time. It was therefore decided to simply dig a canal from Ghent to Damme. Although for centuries it has been a crucial lifeline for nearby villages and towns, it is nevertheless falling into disuse. Many sections of the canal have been closed. But here and there, 't Liefken still shines like in its heyday.

Node 15

Beirtjesbrug

Beirtjesbrug Lieve David Samyn.jpg
Beirtjesbrug Lievegem
David Samyn

De Lieve does not get much more lovely than at the Beirtjes bridge: couples sometimes hang a lock here as a symbol of eternal faithfulness.

Node 42

TROAST

Kerk Sint-Joris.jpg
Sleidinge
Paul Hermans/Wikipedia

Need to recover from all that cycling? Then head to Troast, a coffee bar located in the former gardener's house at Wippelgem Castle. The menu features coffee and sweets, as well as lunch dishes and a range of aperitifs. Highly recommended!

CASTLE OF WIPPELGEM

CASTLE OF WIPPELGEM

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