The best running trails around Oosterzele

The Bottelaarse Vijverswegel is a charming, unpaved path that takes you past vast fields, with rows of trees on the horizon framing the landscape.

The path on the Bunker walking route near Gijzenzele winds through a landscape full of history, where you walk past various old bunkers from the Second World War, surrounded by wide fields and green meadows. The flat, easy to walk path gives you plenty of opportunity to quietly take in the serene surroundings and the heritage.

This Belgian bunker, built as part of the Ghent Bridge Head (constructed between 1934 and 1938), is located 85 meters southwest of bunker A37. The actual bridgehead was made up of two resistance nests – Betsberg and Muntekouter – and three support points – Semmerzake, Eke and Astene. The resistance nests and support points were connected to each other via a curtain, consisting of three lines of defense. This bunker was part of the front line of defense northeast of the Betsberg resistance nest. The bunker consists of an L-shaped entrance hall and two bunker rooms, each with a stepped firing opening on the southern side. An 'oreillon' (projecting wall) at the southeast corner served as additional protection for these gun openings. The entrance gate was accessible via crampons. The bunker was camouflaged as a house on the edge of the village of Gijzenzele. To this end, the rounded concrete corners of the bunker were placed behind brick corners. The whole thing was cemented. The two shooting openings were incorporated in so-called windows that consisted of two shutters made of galvanized metal plates to which wooden window profiles were glued on the outside. The frames of these simulated openings can still be seen. The bunker suffered many bullet impacts in May 1940. These can mainly be seen on the eastern side wall, but other walls also bear traces of war violence. On the orders of the German occupier, iron parts were removed in 1941 and bunker openings were bricked up in 1944. This was also the case with this bunker. On the occasion of the 70th commemoration of the Battle of Gijzenzele, an attempt was made to restore the bunker and reapply the original camouflage. Iron parts in the interior were also reinstalled. Information boards provide more information about the bridgehead and the bunker. Source: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/308261

This old Moortsele watermill, the Dockersmolen or Mill of Hof ter Loo, belonged to the farm 'Hof ter Loo' (that is why it is sometimes called "Molen van Hof ter Loo"), which was first mentioned in writings from 1475. The farm was then owned by the Marquises of Rode. The construction of the water mill probably dates from before 1547. The only historical indication that it was rebuilt dates from 1616. In 1974, however, the constant water pressure became too much for the centuries-old mill. The iron-clad overshot wheel fell into disrepair. The mill was protected as a monument in 1993. The entire building is currently in a very bad condition. Peeking through one of the windows, I thought I saw that restoration (?) was being done behind the building. Source: Wikipedia

Wonderful and easy to ride bike path away from traffic

great to drive

Bunker A36 was restored to its original state, camouflaged as a cottage, in 2010.

Quiet beautiful job along the railway.