The best traffic-free bike rides around Bassenge

This monumental piece of industrial heritage was once a chocolate factory. The architect of the factory was Florent Rosmeulen. He designed the Art Nouveau building with a large, striking rose window. Above the window is a relief with a squirrel. It was one of the first buildings in Belgium to be made of reinforced concrete. Chocolate was produced here until 1934. During the Second World War, the building was reused for military purposes, and in 1948 a loom manufacturer moved in. In the seventies, a metal foundry was established. Today, it is a residential area.

Natuurreservaat De Kevie is one of Haspengouw's most important nature reserves due to its valuable flora and fauna and its location in the Jeker Valley. More than 300 plant species can be found here, including orchids, water violets, and arrowhead. Animal species include breeding birds, various fish species, and amphibians.

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.

Alden Biesen is the former land commandery of the Teutonic Order in Rijkhoven, Bilzen and, until 1795, the main seat of the bailiwick of Biesen. Alden Biesen has now been developed into a cultural center of the Flemish Government. The architectural elaboration of the complex shows a surprising duality between, on the one hand, a medieval moated castle with military significance and, on the other hand, the complex forms a spacious, open classical castle.

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

Kasteel Ter Hove is an elegant, historic castle domain, hidden amidst the gently rolling landscapes of Heers. The current building, which primarily bears 18th-century features, exudes a subdued grandeur. The symmetrical facades, the tranquil inner courtyard, and the surrounding green structures make it a charming anchor point in the region.

Chronological Timeline – Alden Biesen Castle 1220 Count Arnold III of Loon and his sister Mathildis of Munsterbilzen donate land and a chapel near Bilzen to the Teutonic Order. → Founding of a commandery (commandery). 13th century (from the 1220s onward) Establishment of a hospital and expansion into a fortified commandery. Alden Biesen develops into a regional administrative center. 14th–15th centuries Expansion into an important commandery within the Bailiwick of Biesen (the Order's province in the Meuse-Rhine region). Administration of several subordinate commanderies in what are now Belgium, the Netherlands, and western Germany. 1543 Beginning of a comprehensive reconstruction following destruction during regional conflicts. The complex takes on the character of a prestigious moated castle. 16th–17th centuries 19th century Continuous expansions: Residential wings, outbuildings, the church, and fortifications are extended. Around 1700–1750 Baroque and Neoclassical alterations. The complex acquires its present architectural appearance. 1794–1798 Occupation by French revolutionary troops. Dissolution of the Order's property during secularization. → End of the Order's rule after almost 600 years. 19th century Private ownership; gradual structural decay. March 8, 1971 A major fire destroys significant portions of the main building. From 1971 Purchase by the Belgian state (now the Flemish Community). Beginning of a comprehensive restoration in accordance with historic preservation guidelines. Since the end of the 20th century Used as an international cultural, congress, and educational center.

The nature reserve De Kevie, located in the southeast of Tongeren, is not only a beautiful place for walking but also ideal for cyclists who want to enjoy peace, nature, and a green environment. This vast valley belt around the Jeker river is popular with recreational cyclists and cycle tourists, and various cycle paths and routes run through and along the area, forming part of the local cycle network. A popular route follows parts of the old railway line towards Nerem and runs along the edges of De Kevie, where cyclists ride on quiet unpaved paths that are often shared with walkers. These paths are largely separate from busy traffic, ensuring a pleasant and safe cycling experience in the middle of the landscape. Along these paths, you cycle through a varied landscape of hay meadows, valley forests, and marsh zones, with the green banks of the Jeker and the surrounding nature forming a constant backdrop. The route connections are linked to locally signposted nodes, making it possible to plan both short circular rides and longer tours that integrate De Kevie into broader cycling routes through the Limburg landscape, including routes that pass picturesque villages and farmlands. In addition, there are plans and projects to further improve the cycling infrastructure between the city center of Tongeren and De Kevie. New cycle paths are intended, among other things, to provide a safe and comfortable connection between the city park, the allotment gardens, and De Kevie, and to connect to regional cycle routes such as the future cycle highway F791 towards Liège.