The best road cycling routes around Wellen

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.

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.

This section, together with the water lock and the outer bailey, belongs to the oldest parts: in the Apostles' House, remains of the late Gothic ordinance from the second half of the 16th century from the building campaign of Land Commander Wijnandt van Brijel have been preserved. The complex is located at the highest point of the domain, on the eastern side of the commandery. Seven avenues converge at the gate, symbolizing the Seven Sorrows and Joys of Mary. To the right of the gatehouse was the now disappeared Apostles' House; it was an L-shaped building of two storeys, with a chapel on the ground floor, and twelve rooms for needy men, hence the name Apostles' House; late Gothic core from the second half of the 16th century, enlarged and adapted in 1716-1726, under Commander Damian Hugo von Schönborn, as indicated by a facade stone. After World War II, the Apostles' House slowly deteriorated but has since been restored.

On the site where a lordly manor stood in the Middle Ages, the castle of Hardelingen was built in the 19th century. The site had continuous habitation from an early date and was closely linked for centuries to agricultural exploitation in the fertile valley of the Werm. As a lordly manor, the domain functioned not only as a residence but also as an economic center that managed and structured the surrounding land within the traditional Haspengouw agricultural landscape. Today, the castle of Hardelingen, located in the quiet village of Werm, represents a valuable example of the transformation of a medieval lordly manor into a stately 19th-century country residence. The castle and its surrounding park landscape strikingly illustrate the neoclassical ideals of order, harmony, and scenic beauty, thus occupying a special place within 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

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

On the spot where, according to legend, a statue of Our Lady, plowed out by a team of oxen, hung against an oak tree, a late Gothic chapel was built in 1538, which quickly became a place of pilgrimage. The chapel's interior also pleasantly surprises visitors. The rood screen is decorated with a beautiful apostle pew from 1613, probably from the Clerk's Chapel. Pilgrims used to offer a kilo of salt here to prevent children from bedwetting. Even today, the chapel attracts many visitors and, thanks in part to the procession, the May pilgrimage, and the candlelight procession, remains a center of religious life. It is open daily. On Sunday, September 8th, or the following Sunday, there is the annual rosary procession around the chapel to commemorate its dedication. This procession features a modern depiction of the mysteries of the Rosary, which also includes the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. At the beginning of the procession, a farmer walks with an old plow. This refers to the legend that a farmer in the early sixteenth century allegedly found the statue of the Virgin Mary while plowing. The chapel on Ossenweg is said to have been built later in this neighborhood. The statue of Our Lady of Ossenweg is also carried in the procession. Source: https://www.zoutleeuw.be/kapel-van-de-ossenweg

Café Coureur and their Lumberjack rides in both winter and summer are slowly becoming legendary: Lumberjack is one of the first gravel rides ever in Belgium. The rides are great and varied, the staff (Peter, Simon, Virze, and the team) are extremely friendly, and the afterparty with a BBQ and a fire is a must. Not to mention the beautiful café itself with photos and other cycling elements, and the cool Kwaremont beer… Just to be clear, I don't work for Café Coureur, but I am an avid gravel rider and have been riding the Lumberjack for many years.