The best running trails around Bilzen

On the border of the poor Kempen and fertile Haspengouw lies the Munsterbos. Northeast of the village center of Munsterbilzen, 450 hectares of forests, ponds, marshes, and grasslands stretch out. Here and there, even a patch of purple heather peeks through. The area is so special due to its location on the transition from the sandy Kempen Plateau to the Haspengouw clay region.

The chapel of the Secret Army in the Munsterbos forest commemorates the former hiding place and execution site of members of the resistance movement. This location along the Weerstandspad (Resistance Path) was the refuge of approximately 800 resistance fighters from the Bilzen - Genk – Kortessem region. Three of these resistance fighters from Bilzen were executed here in the vicinity on September 5 and 7, 1944, just a few days before the liberation. The annual commemoration takes place every second Sunday of September.

The chapel of the Secret Army in the Munsterbos forest commemorates the former hiding place and execution site of members of the resistance movement. This location along the Weerstandspad (Resistance Path) was the shelter of approximately 800 resistance fighters from the Bilzen - Genk – Kortessem region. Three of these resistance fighters from Bilzen were executed here in the vicinity on September 5 and 7, 1944, just a few days before the liberation. The annual commemoration takes place every second Sunday of September.

This section, together with the water lock and the outer bailey, belongs to the oldest parts: in the Apostles' House, remains of the late Gothic ordinance from the second half of the 16th century from the building campaign of Land Commander Wijnandt van Brijel have been preserved. The complex is located at the highest point of the domain, on the eastern side of the commandery. Seven avenues converge at the gate, symbolizing the Seven Sorrows and Joys of Mary. To the right of the gatehouse was the now disappeared Apostles' House; it was an L-shaped building of two storeys, with a chapel on the ground floor, and twelve rooms for needy men, hence the name Apostles' House; late Gothic core from the second half of the 16th century, enlarged and adapted in 1716-1726, under Commander Damian Hugo von Schönborn, as indicated by a facade stone. After World War II, the Apostles' House slowly deteriorated but has since been restored.

The Bilzermolen is a grist watermill with an undershot wheel on the Demer, at Kattebroekstraat 11, on the eastern side of Haffmans Park or Demer Park, owned by the city of Bilzen. This watermill already existed in the 13th century (first mention: 1301) and was rebuilt several times. It was one of the four Bilzen compulsory or ban mills from the Ancien Régime. It was operated by private individuals who paid an annual rent to the Princely Episcopal Audit Office. It was also mentioned in 1569 as Bouchoutmolen. After 1600, the following miller families worked here: Castermans, Maurissen, Martens and Withofs. The building was considerably damaged in 1893, but was soon repaired. The watermill remained in professional operation until around the Second World War. Above the water wheel, the facade still has a wooden cladding. The mill is equipped with a metal undershot wheel and is still capable of grinding. The mill house has been restored. The last professional miller was Gaston Goffin (°Rijkhoven 1921 - +Hasselt 2010), married to Maria Jans. In the end, he only let the mill run for visitors. After the floods of 1998, the embankments on the mill side were heavily damaged. In 2001, a bypass with a fish ladder was built around the mill. This bypass primarily serves to prevent flooding in case of blockages of the mill sluice. In this bypass, about eight pool steps between 10 and 15 cm high were built.

Anglers can indulge themselves here at 3 fishing ponds. For 2 of these ponds, you need a permit.

The Katteberg is said to owe its name to a quarry in the nearby Leten called 'In de Kat'. This nature reserve on the Demer is very varied with its fish ponds, species-rich meadows, rough areas, an orchard and a slope forest. The walking path that leads via the Leterweg to Alden Biesen follows the route of a vanished tram line. This was built in 1908-1910 to connect the industrial area of Liège with the Limburg coal mines. The tram line had to bridge a height of 25 meters here and crossed the Demer via a double arched bridge in masonry. The tram tracks were removed in 1952. The pond behind the tram bridge was created by the extraction of clay for the Belisia tile factory in the Zeepstraat.

The Kimpel pond, located behind the tram bridge, was created by the extraction of clay for the Belisia tile factory in Zeepstraat.