Sombeke-Oude Durme hiking route circuit 1
Route description
The first of two Sombeke-Oude Durme walks runs north of the Durme, through the castle grounds of beautiful Sombeke to the mud flats and salt marshes of the Durme.
Starting point Mira Bridge
Since the 1970s, Flanders has known Hammebrug over the Durme as the 'Mira Bridge', after the film 'Mira' with Willeke van Ammelrooy. Along with Jan Decleir, this legendary Dutch actress dove naked into the river here. At that time, her bare breasts were so risqué that people still call this the Mira bridge. Today, the bridge is protected as a monument and you can only cross it on foot or by bicycle.
Groot Broek
On either side of the Mira Bridge, the Sigma Plan creates two special natural areas, Groot and Klein Broek. De-poldering will give the Durme more room, and the ebb and flow will sculpt a landscape of mudflats and salt marshes.
De Koolputten
At De Koolputten, you will stay in 100% luxury near the famous Mira Bridge, in an impressively renovated complex that used to house a coal trade with a loading and unloading wharf. In the restaurant, you can try a gourmet menu with an Asian touch. You get the view of the bridge and the Durme as a bonus.
Durme
A good portion of the route runs along the Durme, a river that originated at first from two different sources in West Flanders, near Tielt and Beernem. After the last Ice Age – some 15,000 years ago – sand accumulations forced the river to find a new bed, more to the east. Today, the Durme is only 26 kilometres long, from its mouth in Tielrode to the centre of Lokeren, where the river has been dammed. The reed warbler and the bluethroat like to nest in the reed beds; the spider king-cup flower grows on the freshwater salt marshes.
De Rietsnijderij
Just off the route, you will find De Rietsnijderij, a unique freshwater salt marsh along the Durmedijk. The spring blooming of the king-cup flowers is remarkable. Unusual marsh birds like the bluethroat and the reed warbler populate the metre-high reed beds.
Sombeke
The history of Sombeke goes back quite far, as can be seen by the two meadows we still find there. Both meadows are actually relatively well preserved. The northern meadow or Sombeke meadow (also called Bovendries) is where the village developed in the Middle Ages. The landscape of Sombeke is quite hilly, which is because it is located on the Waas cuesta (Spanish word for slope, hill).
Castle of Sombeke
The Castle of Sombeke is found along the southern meadow or the Benedendries. This charming Renaissance castle is the oldest castle in Waasmunster. The history of this castle goes back to 1438, when one Jan van Sombeke – then lord and master here – had his motte there: an earthen wall on which a fortification was built. Later, this site served as the fortified residence of the lords of Sombeke, who administered their seigniory of the same name from here. The castle is privately owned and cannot be visited.
Circuit 2
Can you just not get enough of the beautiful Durmevallei? Then supplement this route with the Sombeke – Oude Durme walking route circuit 2.
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