Forest chapel Buggenhout

Buggenhout is best known for the Buggenhout forest (8) and the more than 500-year-old forest chapel.
The forest chapel in its current form dates from the 17th century, but there was certainly a chapel in 1504. According to legend, the chapel was then built by Jacoba van Heffene in memory of her husband, nobleman Jan de Rycke, who was killed by a large wild boar while hunting. A plaque in the chapel tells the story of the fatal accident. Pilgrimages gave the forest chapel more and more fame in the region, so it was expanded and adapted to its current form.

Kasteelstraat 212 9255 Buggenhout
To visit:
Daily: 09h-17h

Buggenhoutbos (8)
The current Buggenhout forest is a remnant of a gigantic forest complex that was once thousands of hectares in size. Already at the end of the Middle Ages, the area had shrunk to 470 hectares, of which only 140 hectares remained in 1936, when the state purchased the forest. The various owners, including the lords of Grimbergen and the abbey of Afflighem, were eager to cut it down. The First World War also caused a disastrous clearing in which half of the forest was destroyed. Thanks to forest expansion and good forest management, the Buggenhoutbos is now more than 200 hectares in size, making it the largest East Flemish state forest.

Stichting Open Kerken