The best running trails around Tienen

The Rozendaalbeek Valley, often mentioned in the same breath as Paddepoel (Velpe Valley), is a small valley formed by a tributary of the Velpe River, named—you guessed it—Rozendaalbeek. At the edge of the valley, on top of the slope, you'll find Natuur.huis De Gors, a nature center run by Natuurpunt Velpe-Mene, where there are often activities (including training courses). The valley itself is approximately 70 hectares and lies between Sint-Maarten and Sint-Pieter (both Vissenaken). The Rozendaalbeek is a tiny stream that rises just outside Tienen on the northwest side in two amphitheater-shaped slopes. After just a few hundred meters, the two separate branches meet and together form the Roosdaalbeek, which is listed on military maps as the "Vlietende beek" (Flying Brook). It still meanders naturally here and there through the wet meadows. Ancient pollard willows once lined its entire length, but many of these characteristic landscape features have since disappeared. The stream flows through an increasingly widening valley to the Velpe. More at https://www.velpe-mene.be/tienen/rozendaalbeekvallei.htm Flora tip: in spring, broad-leaved orchis (a native orchid species) and in autumn, a paradise for waxcaps, those oh-so-special and beautiful mushrooms. Take a look at https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurinfo/paddenstoelen-families/paddenstoelenfamilie-wasplaten for these "orchids among the mushrooms." In this wetland nature reserve, you're never far from village centers and the highway, but be sure to take a look. Greet the Galloway people and don't forget the well of Saint Hymelinus of Vissenaken. His reliquary can be found in the parish church of Saint Martin, near De Gors and a path leading to the valley.

I have no idea why it's there. You're on a public road, a short distance from the entrance to the nature reserve, which only begins past the church and the Natuurpunt (Nature Point) house. There's a parking lot at the church.

Even before 1290, the church of Oplinter was a place of pilgrimage where, following the example of Paris, people came to implore the favors of Saint Genevieve to ward off the plague. The oldest core dates from around 1200. Over the following centuries, the hall church was continually expanded and enlarged. Several fires (in 1506, 1597, and 1676) ravaged the building. The Saint Genevieve Church has a late Romanesque square tower dating from around 1200. Next to the tower, a three-aisled Gothic nave of four bays, ending in a three-bay choir with a five-sided apse, was built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The narrow side aisles were vaulted to the same height as the nave, creating a hall church. The construction is attributed to master architect Franco de Lintris, also known as the foreman of the beguinage church in Diest in 1329. In the century following the completion of the hall church, the following were successively added: a north side portal and a north transept, and a south side portal and a south transept. In the 15th and 16th centuries, two large chapels were added on either side of the choir. Following fires in 1506, 1597, and 1676, the vault of the choir's nave collapsed. This was replaced by a rococo ceiling depicting scenes from the life of Saint Genevieve. The nave columns also had to be reinforced at that time. The church was restored several times. During the first restoration in 1878, led by architect A. Van Assche, the exterior decoration of the pinnacles and windows was restored. During a second restoration campaign in 1931-1936, led by Prof. Kan. R. Lemaire, the Gothic choir vault was rebuilt. Finally, between 1972 and 1985, the roofs and exterior walls were repaired, and the modern sacristy behind the choir was demolished. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of Saint Genevieve, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43103

Nice spot to take a break. Roofed benches and tables.

Nice, quiet, nice straight web between the fields

Beautiful view of the Gete valley...

On the banks of the Grote Gete and with a view of the sugar factory.

In the Paddepoel you will find a unique combination of species such as blue button, caraway, tormentil, cat's thorn, pale sedge, wild bertram and umbrella hawkweed. In early spring, hundreds of wood anemones bloom, a very rare phenomenon in grasslands. The fact that the wood anemones bloom there shows that it is a very old and undisturbed grassland. Thanks to 25 years of targeted management, several rare species have increased significantly. There are thousands of caraway, one of the largest Flemish populations. Yellow-green sedge first emerged in 2013 and is doing well. The Paddepoel is home to grasslands with lots of knotweed, sweet grass, large hawkweed and golden oat. In addition, there is a marsh marigold grassland with lots of field rush, two-row sedge and rough bedstraw. Broad-leaved orchis is expected here soon. Natuurpunt has also dug and restored a number of ponds in the Paddepoel. Salamanders feel very comfortable there. The alpine newt and small newt already live in the oldest part of the Paddepoel, but we hope that the endangered crested newt will also discover the pools.