The best walks and hikes around Tienen

The pond, which has been there for years, has a small wooden platform for those who are interested, and is located near the small bridge over the stream once you've descended the paths leading to the higher village center. You are now at the same altitude as the road to Aarschot and can walk around the pond, which is connected to the meadows by the path. 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 indicated on maps as the "Vlietende beek" (Flying Brook). Typical of the Rozendaalbeekvallei nature reserve is its secluded location between the two parishes of Vissenaken. Yet, you hardly notice this as you walk through the valley. The wet grasslands furthest downstream between Metselstraat and Hymelinusstraat, which were purchased first, are the most visible. The other plots are less well-known because they offer less visibility. Source and much more at http://www.velpe-mene.be/tienen/rozendaalbeekvallei.htm

Already a small church...

Where water and reeds feel connected...

The exterior of the church has been renovated. It looks more recent than before, but it looks beautiful, and I finally have some photos of the interior.

Unfortunately, much of it has been extensively renovated, and you can't really get close enough to see the old center unless you have a very good lens—and even then, that's okay. A bit of history: "It is impossible to determine exactly when the Boschelle house was donated to the Order of the Hospital. What is certain is that this happened through the Duke, who traditionally owned many properties in Hakendover. Under the influence of the Duke and his entourage, the Order of Citeaux had also acquired several properties here in the early 13th century. For example, the nearby Beenshoeve was owned by the Cistercians of Vrouwenark Abbey in Wezemaal, and the Cistercian Abbey of Maagdendaal was founded on the other side of the Gete. The tax records of the Duke of Brabant regularly mention land adjacent to the Bosschelle properties. There are few direct references to the farm. We do know, however, that the municipal boundaries of Wommersom were established on July 4, 1348, partly by a certain Libert van der Bosschellen. The fact that the border of this municipality extends close to the Bosschelle may be a likely explanation here." It's no stranger to this. In the 15th century, a certain Willem vander Bosschelle was alderman of Tienen. Early mentions of the name of Bosschelle can also be found in the charterbook of Oplinter Abbey from 1396, f 63. Boschelle is also mentioned in 1315 and 1340. This and much more can be found at https://www.hakendover.be/nl/lees/811/het-huis-boschelle-hakendover-van-de-orde-van-malta

Chapel on the corner of Hakendoverstraat and Beinshoevestraat, near the various farms in the immediate vicinity. The chapel is included in a list of chapels in Flanders for Linter - https://www.kapelletjesinvlaanderen.be/html/linter.html I haven't found much else about it online yet. However, it's clearly an older wayside chapel. There are also seating options (a bench and a picnic table). "Fortunately," there was a half-decayed sign at the edge of the meadow where I could just make out the words "Altijddurende hulp," "1846," "2004 door de," and "Wommersom." Finally, the inscription on the base of the chapel reads: "Notre-Dame de Bon Secours, priez pour nous."

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

Always nice to pass by here. Just for the beautiful views.