The best walks and hikes around Borgloon

The church is located within the walled and tree-lined churchyard, with some beautiful chestnut trees and lime trees. The church of Haren is a very old, autonomous foundation. The 15th-century Gothic nave rests on a Romanesque substructure. During the first half of the 17th century, the church is repeatedly described as being in poor condition; apparently, a restoration took place in the second half of the 17th century, during which the facade was completely rebuilt in brick with layers of marlstone. In 1763, it is reported that the choir needs to be repaired; it is completely rebuilt in brick in the last quarter of the 18th century. Probably during this period, the original pointed arch windows of the nave, of which remaining traces exist, were also replaced by the current round arch windows, and the portal and the window in the west facade were added. The sacristy also dates from this period.

The town hall can be visited with a guide, who will tell you more about the fascinating history and special architecture of this monument.

When the hedges have not yet been trimmed and the grass in the verges is high, you can walk past without noticing it. I had almost missed it... Here is a beautiful large viewing platform built on the slope. You can see for miles from here.

Here you walk on the western flank of a Loons dry valley with views over the old high-stemmed orchards and on the other side - on the eastern slope - the famous Borgloon church with its through-view.

From the Tongersestraat, on the edge of the city center, starts a narrow cobbled alley, which leads to a dirt road. It is likely located on the site of the vanished city walls. On the north side are the gardens and garden walls of the houses on Tongersestraat and Paddonck, on the south side are the orchards on the downward sloping hills south of the city. The alley passes behind the rectory to emerge at Paddonck, behind the church choir. The alley is called Kattesteeg or Kattensteeg.

This transparent church, aptly named 'Reading Between the Lines', is a work of art by PIT, designed by the architectural duo Gijs Van Vaerenbergh. It symbolises the decay of the church. The ten-meter-high artwork consists of one hundred stacked layers of sheet steel in the shape of a church in Loon. Thanks to the unique construction, the beautiful Haspengouw landscape remains visible through the church. In 2012, this transparent church received the 'Building of the Year' award from the renowned website ArchDaily. It was the first time a Belgian project had received this honour. Enjoy the view; this is a place with one of the most breathtaking panoramas.

The town hall has been a protected monument since 1935.

The church was presumably founded at the end of the tenth century. As early as 1027, a chapter of canons was associated with the church. In 1047, the archdeacon of Liège consecrated the church to St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Odulf, and the church was first mentioned in writing. In 1130-1131, the place of worship was replaced by a Romanesque church, using flint, river pebbles, and sandstone as building materials. A partially preserved and dated consecration stone depicting Christ, Peter, and Paul bears witness to this period. From 1290 onwards, the church was recorded as being in poor condition. About a century later, in 1396, the Romanesque tower disappeared to make way for the current Gothic tower (built: 1406). Significant extensions took place in the 18th century: the southern arm of the transept was built in 1773, the northern one in 1774, and in 1783 the large sacristy was built. The church's current Neo-Romanesque appearance is largely determined by the renovation in 1903 and 1904. Since 1935, the church, with the exception of the Neo-Romanesque aisles, has been a protected monument. In 2002, the protection was extended to the entire church. The church was renovated between 2014 and 2020 and restored to its full glory, with a focus on the Romanesque, Gothic, and Neo-Romanesque elements. Useful links: - https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Odulfuskerk_(Borgloon) - https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/31816 - https://www.borgloon.be/toerisme/groepsbezoeken/ontdek-borgloon/sint-odulphuskerk - https://sint-odulphuskerk.be/ - https://openchurches.eu/nl-be/gebouwen/sint-odulphus-borgloon - https://sint-odulphuskerk.be/halo-open-kerk/