The best running trails around Landen

Basilica-style building on a trapezoidal plan; four bays on the east side culminating in a square choir and crowned on the south side by a massive tower. Interesting tower volume in transitional style (mid-13th century). Quartzite plinth and tuff facing. Three stories: the ground floor currently features a pointed arch arcade; the bell storey has four paired sound holes with a Romanesque column surmounted by a cube capital. The spire dates from the 17th century. Gothic naves covered with mullioned beams or a flat ceiling; north entrance. The choir, also built of tuff, dates from the third quarter of the 13th century; the apse features an oculus and a three-light window with a three-lobed archivolt. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43465

nice place to go on holiday

The Sint-Pietersbandenkerk is a beautiful example of a rural church that has evolved over the centuries, consisting of a 16th-century Gothic choir in Lincent tuff stone, a sacristy in Maasland style from 1723, a neo-Gothic nave, transept and west tower from 1890 designed by the Sint-Truiden architect E. Serrure and as a final addition two neo-Gothic side chapels from 1896. The church is still surrounded by the walled cemetery with mortuary, with an artistic wrought and cast iron fence by the Van Aerschot company from Herentals from 1873 that was reused around 1890 with the addition of two new wing gates between bluestone pillars, and with a number of striking and locally historically valuable 17th-century grave crosses, late 19th-early 20th-century gravestones with column and wrought iron crosses. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of St. Peter's Bands, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302507

In the midst of the large-scale cultural landscape, this area is one of the last refuges for wild animals and plants in Landen. Small willow groves spontaneously developed between the ponds, where woodpeckers and golden orioles, among others, make their nests. The relatively pure groundwater in the ponds makes a very varied aquatic life possible, ranging from the large yellow-edged water beetle to dragonflies, fish and kingfishers. The pussy willows around the ponds are particularly striking. They grow quickly, but their branches break off easily. Because they do not contain any hard heartwood, birds such as the green and the great spotted woodpecker use them to carve out their nests. The branches that hang close to the water offer ideal resting or viewing places for wild ducks and blue herons. They are especially vital for the kingfisher. Sitting on a lookout post, it hunts for rudd, sticklebacks and other aquatic animals in the water. In early summer, white foam drops sometimes fall from the pussy willows: cuckoo spit. It comes from the larvae of the foam cicada, which produce foam and hide in it. Many other insects live on the pussy willows. They are eagerly eaten by insectivorous birds such as the chiffchaff, the willow warbler and the spotted flycatcher. The bankside vegetation with bulrush, hairy willowherb and marsh sedge offers nesting opportunities for the moorhen and the coot. In summer, many dragonflies and damselflies float above and around the ponds, the most striking of which is the large emperor dragonfly. Swallows hunt for mosquitoes above the ponds. This is therefore the ideal place for a hobby to catch both a swallow and a large dragonfly. In addition to the various types of grass, you will find plants here that feel at home in a dry, calcareous environment. Striking features include the box pod, the cinquefoil and the wild marjoram. Here you can observe numerous species of butterflies in the summer. From the piled-up area you have a good view of the reed field, the breeding area of the reed warbler, the sedge warbler, the reed bunting and many other marsh birds. Wood edges screen the hayfield and the berry or nut-bearing shrubs offer shelter and food to birds such as the garden warbler, chiffchaff and jay. On the darkest parts you can sometimes find glowworms in the evening. Source: https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebieden/beemden-landen

Beautiful church built from old sandstone (from Lincent). The (older?) base of the tower in limestone.

The nature reserve "de Beemden" is approximately 6.5 ha in size, the ideal place to get some fresh air in Landen. The area is situated in the valley of the Molenbeek and the Zeyp and is accessible to hikers all year round. The reserve is owned by the city of Landen. Around the 1960s, seven ponds were dug out in a series of hay meadows with the intention of turning them into fish ponds. Although the ponds are actually artificial, they add significant value to the area. You will find a variety of water inhabitants (both plants and animals) here. You can fish there in peace and the children can enjoy themselves in the beautiful play landscape. In a widened part of the Molenbeek you will find a fantastic water playground with locks, an Archimedes screw and water wheels. Would you rather cross your stream? Take the monkey bridge, the stepping stones or the stilt path to get to the other side. On the bank you can relax on the small sandy beach. Attenhovenstraat, Landen, Belgium

Heritage information about the station (description): This is a good example of a rural station that was built by the State Railways in 1908. Characteristic brick architecture in a particularly elaborate decorative design with bricks using bush-hammered natural stone blocks. A so-called 'logis des piocheurs' has also been preserved here. The Landen-Tamines line was abolished in 1959. Building built on an elongated floor plan consisting of: a main volume (home, waiting rooms 1st and 2nd class) of four bays and two storeys under a saddle roof (now with artificial slates, previously with natural slates), a low wing of seven bays (waiting room 3rd class, office, storage area) also under a saddle roof and on the other side an outbuilding (laundry, coal storage area and lampisterie) under a hipped roof. Architecture characterized by natural stone bush-hammered plinth, facades in red smooth brick with horizontal bands (yellow and gray brick) and wooden cornices with profiled cornice blocks. Natural stone blocks with the name of the station are incorporated in the facades. The interior was changed. Separate annex: the so-called 'logement des piocheurs' in half-timbered construction (wood and brick). In the garden of the station master there are two approximately one hundred year old yew trees. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Station Racour, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/200086

Never just call the former station of Racour-Landen "former station". First of all, there is the protected station itself. Secondly, thirdly, fourthly and so on, there is much more. For example, you have an orchard where you can rest and picnic and pick now and then. There is an information board about the station and one about nature and one about Racour and one about all sorts of other things for the inquisitive among us. And then there are remnants from that station past. There is even the entire area around the station, protected as a village view. That is because of its industrial-archaeological value. But it is also simply beautiful there. Quote: "Because of its industrial-archaeological value, the area around Racour station is also protected as a village view. In addition to the protected station building and the 'logis des piocheurs', the station master's garden with two yew trees of approximately 100 years old and the former railway bed are also part of it." Source: https://www.landen.be/beschermde%20dorpsgezichten And you are close to the Waasmontse Tom. See https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/7164887 Or if you want to see a somewhat older train, just walk on that path past the old station that you can admire from there. Or the miniature of the station. Or beautiful views. Or, well, there is quite a lot and something for everyone I think. Just enjoy this spot and what you see and find on a relatively small surface, for some undoubtedly a spot with multiple highlights.