The best MTB trails around Alken

The new Castle De Klee was built on behalf of and for the baroness Sneyers-d'Attenhoven in 1904-07. After a fire in 1933, it was restored again. The whole is located in a landscape-style park, enclosed by an iron entrance gate between bluestone pillars.

At the highest point of Helshoven, you can now enjoy a breathtaking view over the Haspengouw landscape. Artist Frits Jeuris has created a unique work of art from dozens of felled fruit trees from the area. “Helsh(ea)ven”, a wooden work of art consisting of 90 standard cherry trees, each fifty years old, was hit by the cherry plague virus at the end of 2016, a contagious plant disease that causes small fruits on cherries. Now the felled trees are getting a second life. The work of art symbolizes the dynamic landscape of Haspengouw.

On the site where a manor house stood in the Middle Ages, the castle of Hardelingen was built in the 19th century. The site had continuous habitation from early on and was closely linked for centuries to agricultural exploitation in the fertile valley of the Werm. As a manor house, the domain served not only as a residence but also as an economic center that managed and structured the surrounding land within the traditional agricultural landscape of Haspengouw. Today, the castle of Hardelingen, located in the quiet village of Werm, is a valuable example of the transformation of a medieval manor house into a stately 19th-century country residence. The castle and the surrounding park landscape strikingly illustrate the neoclassical ideals of order, harmony, and scenic beauty, thus occupying a special place in the heritage of Haspengouw. Want to know more about the past? Click through to https://www.burchten-kastelen.be/provincies/limburg/042%20Kasteel%20van%20Hardelingen/Kasteel%20van%20Hardelingen.html

In 2022, around 30 slow roads in Heusden-Zolder received nameplates. A brilliant move to raise awareness of the many unknown church paths, country lanes, and shortcuts to the general public. More walkers and cyclists passing along slow roads means more safe travel, less congestion, and a greater experience for users. And the slow roads themselves are less likely to become congested.

The chapel at Oetersloven is also known as the chapel of the Bokkenrijders (Goat Riders). Jan van Muysen, a clog maker from Wellen, had left a letter of complaint at the farm of Jan Wouters from Ulbeek, demanding a large sum of money, or else his farm would be set on fire. The money was to be placed in a hole near the chapel. Wouters, however, recognized Van Muysen, despite his disguise. Jan van Muysen was arrested as a goat rider on April 1, 1774, and beheaded on June 16 of the same year in the Bonderkuil in Wellen.

In autumn, you feel like you're walking through a tunnel of vegetation. I recommend this passage.

Beautiful Chapel, unfortunately the crypt is closed

Since 1798, a 19th and 20th century country house has grown out of a farm and preserves an old core in an approximately 40 ha estate with a park in landscape style from the last quarter of the 19th century, a forest park characterized by the very uneven relief and an old tree population with some champion trees. More info: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/855