The best traffic-free bike rides around Oupeye

Beautiful place for hikers and cyclists on the left bank of the Maas. On one side the Maas with all its aquatic life, the other side shy buildings that do not fear or are prepared for the sometimes high Maas water.

This monumental piece of industrial heritage was once a chocolate factory. The architect of the factory was Florent Rosmeulen. He designed the Art Nouveau building with a large, striking rose window. Above the window is a relief with a squirrel. It was one of the first buildings in Belgium to be made of reinforced concrete. Chocolate was produced here until 1934. During the Second World War, the building was reused for military purposes, and in 1948 a loom manufacturer moved in. In the seventies, a metal foundry was established. Today, it is a residential area.

Natuurreservaat De Kevie is one of Haspengouw's most important nature reserves due to its valuable flora and fauna and its location in the Jeker Valley. More than 300 plant species can be found here, including orchids, water violets, and arrowhead. Animal species include breeding birds, various fish species, and amphibians.

Wine terrace and bar at Wijnkasteel Genoels-Elderen. The cozy terrace of the wine castle is a lovely place to relax with a beautiful view of the garden and the pond. You can taste all the products of the wine castle, and coffee, regional beer, lemonade, and snacks are also available.

The nature reserve De Kevie, located in the southeast of Tongeren, is not only a beautiful place for walking but also ideal for cyclists who want to enjoy peace, nature, and a green environment. This vast valley belt around the Jeker river is popular with recreational cyclists and cycle tourists, and various cycle paths and routes run through and along the area, forming part of the local cycle network. A popular route follows parts of the old railway line towards Nerem and runs along the edges of De Kevie, where cyclists ride on quiet unpaved paths that are often shared with walkers. These paths are largely separate from busy traffic, ensuring a pleasant and safe cycling experience in the middle of the landscape. Along these paths, you cycle through a varied landscape of hay meadows, valley forests, and marsh zones, with the green banks of the Jeker and the surrounding nature forming a constant backdrop. The route connections are linked to locally signposted nodes, making it possible to plan both short circular rides and longer tours that integrate De Kevie into broader cycling routes through the Limburg landscape, including routes that pass picturesque villages and farmlands. In addition, there are plans and projects to further improve the cycling infrastructure between the city center of Tongeren and De Kevie. New cycle paths are intended, among other things, to provide a safe and comfortable connection between the city park, the allotment gardens, and De Kevie, and to connect to regional cycle routes such as the future cycle highway F791 towards Liège.

The former Rosmeulen chocolate factory in Nerem, a sub-municipality of Tongeren (Belgium), is a remarkable industrial heritage building with a rich history and striking architecture. The building was erected around 1908–1909 by Florent Rosmeulen, a chocolatier who produced chocolate, cocoa, and gingerbread there. It is one of the few industrial buildings in Limburg executed in the Art Nouveau style with characteristic details such as an impressive stained-glass window above the entrance and decorative references to cocoa and chocolate. The structure is among the first buildings in Belgium to be constructed with a reinforced concrete skeleton, which was progressive at the time and contributed to its robust industrial appearance. The factory experienced its heyday in the first decades of the 20th century but was severely impacted by the economic crisis of the 1930s. After reorganizations, the company went bankrupt in 1934, and production ceased. In the following decades, the building served various functions, being used by the military during World War II, then by other industrial enterprises such as a textile factory and a tin foundry, and later for cultural activities. After years of vacancy and decay, the former chocolate factory was repurposed from the mid-2010s into a residential and living complex. Under the name De Chocoladefabriek (The Chocolate Factory), the industrial monument is preserved and transformed into a residential project with lofts and apartments combined with communal spaces and gardens. The impressive Art Nouveau block, featuring a glass artwork approximately 6 meters wide, is one of the highlights of the renovation and one of the largest glass artworks in an industrial context in Flanders. The repurposing of the former chocolate factory has become an example of how historical industrial heritage can be integrated into a modern residential function. The project even received recognition with a prestigious real estate award for the way the old building was preserved and given new life. Today, the building not only commemorates the industrial history of the region but also serves as an architectural and social hub where living, heritage, and modern architecture converge, near the green nature reserve De Kevie and the former railway line.

From this vantage point, you have a beautiful view of Château de Beusdael, a historic country house surrounded by expansive gardens and the rolling landscape of South Limburg. The castle and its surroundings tell a story of regional history, estates, and culture, and offer a photogenic stop during your walk.

Beautiful area, good roads, nice castle