Belgian Limburg
This 220 km road trip through the Belgian province of Limburg starts in the beautiful Voerstreek and leads through the fruit region in Haspengouw and the mining region around Beringen to the Hoge Kempen National Park and its finish in Oud-Rekem, an authentic Meuse village in the Meuse Valley.
Highlights along the way include the landscape of the Voerstreek, the fruit region of Haspengouw, the mining route around Beringen, the Lommel Sahara, the 'Cycling through the Trees' cycle path, the Bokrijk Provincial Domain and its world-famous 'Cycling through the Water' cycle path, the Hoge Kempen National Park with its many hiking and cycling trails and the picturesque Meuse villages.
- Perfect travel companion if you want to discover Belgian Limburg by motorhome, car or motorbike
- Clearly organised into 7 stages with 24 places of interest, travel tips, 17 hiking routes, 9 cycling routes, local tourist services and places to stay (15 campsites and 15 camper van sites)
- Available as PDF (travel guide 49 pages) in beautiful design, illustrated with inspiring texts and high-quality photography
- Includes interactive map for PC, tablet or smartphone so you have all information at hand en route
- Includes GPX files so you can download the full route and all cycling and walking routes onto your GPS
Some highlights on this road trip
Teuven - Moelingen (the Voerstreek)
Our roadtrip through Limburg starts in Teuven, the most eastern village of the Voerstreek. This region has a total of six picturesque villages where time seems to have stood still. The vast landscape of the Voerstreek is best explored on foot or by bike, but from Teuven you can also choose to stop at each village by campervan, car or motorbike.
This way, you drive from Teuven alternately over vast plateaus and through river valleys to Remersdaal, Sint-Pietersvoeren, Sint-Martens-Voeren, 's-Gravenvoeren all the way to Moelingen. Along the way, churches, chapels, crosses, castles, half-timbered houses, small bridges and a remarkable railway bridge call for imagination and reflection. Each village has its own peculiarities and charms.
Moelingen - Sint-Truiden (Haspengouw)
From Moelingen it's only a half-hour drive to Tongeren, the first stop in the Haspengouw fruit region. Tongeren is the oldest town in Belgium and is therefore a place full of history and culture. The statue of Ambiorix awaits you on the Grote Markt and for those who want to know everything about Roman history, there is the Gallo-Roman Museum.
Via Herstappe, the smallest village in Flanders and Groot-Loon, known for the transparent church Reading Between the Lines, we reach our next stop: Borgloon. In this cosy town, you can enjoy the beautiful panoramas while walking or cycling and visit the syrup factory, where you can see how the Haspengouwse fruit is processed.
Our last stop is Sint-Truiden, the capital of Haspengouw. Here, the belfry and the Sint-Agnesbegijnhof are worth visiting. Both are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Moreover, if you are in Haspengouw around April, the many fruit trees transform themselves into a vast sea of blossom and this region is perfect for endless bicycle and walking tours.
Sint-Truiden - Beringen
Via Nieuwerkerken and Herk-de-Stad we reach Beringen. This town is the start of the Mining Heritage Route in Limburg. The mine site of Beringen is the largest heritage site in Flanders and also the only one in Limburg where the industrial heart of the mine has been preserved. To make the experience complete, you can combine a visit to the mine site with a walk along the coal track or on the slag heap where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Limburg.
If you feel like a bit of adventure during your tour of Beringen, you can visit the Alpamayo climbing centre or opt for a unique dive among beautiful fish in the TODI diving tower.
Beringen - Pelt
Before we continue to Genk for the continuation of the mine route, we make a small diversions to Lommel and Pelt for the largest adventure forest in Flanders. Bosland is a unique hiking environment of 200 hectares. Ideal to visit with the children. In the forest, you can walk through the desert-like landscape of the Lommel Sahara, but there are also clear blue lakes and fragrant coniferous and deciduous forests. Moreover, you can make a unique bike ride in this adventure forest. The internationally renowned cycle path "Cycling through the trees" takes you up to ten metres high, allowing you to see, feel and smell the beauty of nature up close.
Besides a trip through Bosland, you can also visit the cities of Lommel and Pelt for numerous sights and a nice mix of culture and nature.
