The best traffic-free bike rides in Dunbergbroek (Hagelandse Vallei)

Quiet road and a reed field?

A truly rural setting, a potholed dirt road for cars and a paved cycle path for cyclists—that’s how it should be.

Take the designated bike path, because the gravel section where cars have to ride is in incredibly bad condition. Your water bottles will shudder out of their holders!

Vlierbeek Abbey is located northeast of Leuven. To the south, it borders the Negenbunders and the Molenbeek valley, which, until the first half of the 20th century, connected to the then-existing part of the Lovenarenbroek. The avenues, the abbey site, and the surrounding fields have largely been preserved over the past two centuries. The priory was founded by the Benedictines of Affligem in 1127. The first monastic buildings were erected from 1158 onwards, and the first church was built in 1170. During the Wars of Religion, the abbey was destroyed. Reconstruction did not begin until 1642. A second building campaign began in 1776, during which only the church and the abbot's quarters were completed. The ruins of the original church tower still exist. The abbey was dissolved in 1796, but thanks to the Concordat, the first monks were able to return in 1801. In 1829, Vlierbeek became an independent parish. The abbey church is a defining feature: a remarkably homogeneous building in the Classical style, a series of geometric volumes devoid of any ornamentation. Adjacent to the church is the cemetery, which is still in use. In the garden adjacent to the church, we still find remains of the cloister, rebuilt in the 17th century. The old abbot's quarters date from the 16th century but have been renovated several times. In the vegetable garden, a 17th-century gazebo with a rococo stucco ceiling still stands, used as a chapel since 1963. Several outbuildings adjacent to the western enclosure wall were converted into private residences in the 19th century. The 18th-century carriage house was also converted into a residence. Farmhouse buildings from the 17th century stand against the northern fence, which originally housed a bakery and brewery. The 17th-century northern gate was originally equipped with a drawbridge, the ironwork of which has been preserved. The western gate with the gatehouse dates from the 16th century. Behind the farm, traces of the Baroque garden and its associated canal system can still be seen. The plot of the former 17th-century parterre garden is still recognizable. Also worth mentioning are the garden belonging to the rectory and the garden near the former coach house, as well as remnants of the 18th-century moated island garden in the northeast corner, remnants of hedges, the old cloister, and the vegetable garden. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Vlierbeek Abbey Domain, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/135101

spicy

The core of Horst Castle probably dates back to the 13th century and is characterised by a square keep. The keep probably belonged to the oldest core that was further expanded into a fortified castle in the 15th century. During the troubles under Maximilian of Austria in 1489, the castle of Horst was taken by the people of Leuven and set on fire. According to literary sources, only the keep, part of the entrance gate and a defensive wall remained standing. The residential and east wing were renovated and expanded in the 16th century. The round tower also dates from this period. The outer wall was provided with a rectangular bay window. The castle lost its military character and became more of a pleasant residential area with a view of the moat, the ponds and the inner courtyard. Brick construction with sandstone layers characterise these buildings. In 1587, however, the castle was set on fire again during the raids of the Geuzen. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that restoration work began. It is difficult to deduce from the available sources to what extent this involved restoration or an embellishing conversion of the castle complex. Presumably nothing changed in the internal structure, but only after the structurally necessary repairs were the interiors completely refinished. Maria-Anna Van den Tympel had a new chapel built against the keep in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the complex must have been damaged by plundering and neglect, and it is possible that it also suffered from plundering during the Brabant Revolution of 1830. Around 1850, the castle must have been habitable again, but the castle buildings only served as a farm. In the land registry, the site around the castle is called "De Notelaren Boomgaerd". Around that time, the most dilapidated part must have been demolished, namely the southern part and the superstructure of the gate. The rest of the complex was probably restored with reused demolition material and in traditional style. The castle was divided in 1880, with one part being registered as a school house. In 1897, a further division followed, with two plots being designated as houses. Several restoration campaigns followed in the 20th century. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Horst Castle, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43619

Since December, there has been a spire on the castle again after the unstable spire was removed more than four years ago and could be viewed on a wooden platform in the pond. Now it is back. And the other works are also progressing quickly. More about the replaced spire on https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/12/10/torenspits-staat-weer-op-kasteel-van-horst-holsbeek/

Always nice to have a terrace near Horst Castle.