The best walks and hikes around Avelgem

Due to a breach in the wall near Ellestraat (approximately halfway along the canal), the canal completely emptied in 1959. The damage was later linked to the digging work of muskrats. (Wikipedia)

The vespabar is open from April to September on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays all day. In good weather during the Easter and summer holidays, we are open every day.

A beautiful picnic spot has been set up on the Oude Scheldearm. From there you can enjoy a beautiful view of the water.

A practical and smooth connection for cyclists and pedestrians between Flanders and Wallonia.

The old station building was used by the city as a temporary shelter for the local Red Cross and as a workshop for the GAVKA art academy. In 2005, the building was partially restored by the municipality as part of measures for the conservation of their heritage. Since 24 September 2009, both the station and the outbuilding have been included as protected monuments in the Inventory of Immovable Heritage and have been registered by the Agency for Immovable Heritage as architectural heritage. The hundred-year-old station building (excluding the outbuilding) was, however, put up for sale in January 2024! The outbuilding remains the property of the municipality, as does the passageway that separates the two buildings. (Trainworld.be)

Tradition has it that the first church was built here around 650, consecrated by Saint Eloi himself. The first church in Helkijn was supposedly served by the monks of St. Martin's Abbey in Tournai. The patronage of the parish church belonged to the Bishop of Tournai, who was also the feudal lord and partial owner of the Lordship of Helkijn. The oldest verifiable church building dates from 1200. Archaeologists discovered the remains of a single-nave Romanesque structure made of Tournai stone in the substructure of the current St. John's Church. Due to its strategic location on the border between the County of Flanders and the French-aligned Tournai, Helkijn repeatedly played an important military role. Consequently, the church was destroyed many times. During the Nine Years' War between France and Austria (1688-1697), the church treasures were plundered, and in 1694, French troops burned the building to the ground. Thanks to a special subsidy from the Sun King (Louis XIV), likely due to the warm welcome he received at La Folie (see Maes farm), the church's reconstruction was completed in 1705. The brick bell tower was added to the complex in 1716. During the French Revolution, the church was closed and its contents sold at public auction. The church was destroyed again during the First World War. In 1990, the interior was completely restored with the support of the municipality, the diocese, and the King Baudouin Foundation. The interior is now the result of a compromise between contemporary elements, differentiated white walls, a soft blue choir canopy, and original 18th-century Baroque style. Church Treasures: A remarkable silver dish made in Bruges at the end of the 17th century; a stylish silver ceremonial staff, topped with a silver statuette depicting Saint John the Baptist. The patron saint of the church, Saint John the Baptist, is invoked against "vreze" (bad dreams) and is celebrated on June 24th. Source: www.spiere-helkijn.be

This monumental "Castle Farm" belonged to Helkijn Castle. It was first mentioned in 1627, though it was smaller than the current structure. As a fully walled farm, it can already be seen on, among other places, the Ferraris map (late 18th century). The year 1756 is inscribed on the living quarters, perhaps the date of the renovations. The building is currently in poor condition... although this does result in some beautiful images (such as those of the shutters).

The castle and its outbuildings will soon be taken over by companies specializing in the renovation of historical monuments. Les Amis du Château d'En Haut (non-profit organization) specializes in estate rentals, and the proceeds are redistributed to restoration projects (Pineal Project: workshops, ceremonies, product presentations, exhibitions, performances, etc.). This is stated at: www.chateaudebossuit.com When I passed by, the gate on Kasteeldreef was simply open. There was nothing to indicate that the estate was inaccessible. For example, in the garden to the left of the castle, there seemed to be the remains of a pop-up bar or some kind of public event. When I left the estate on the Doorniksesteenweg side, the automatic gate gently opened for me. When I turned around, I saw a sign saying "Private / No Access."