Meldert, nature around the dungeon

A walking tour that takes you from the church of Meldert to the castle and keep of Meldert. The keep dates from the 13th century. The surrounding Meldertbos is a nature reserve. Thanks to wild nature, a stream valley and beautiful panoramas, you reach the Mene Valley Nature Reserve and Jordaan, a region reminiscent of the Voer region.

1. Meet at St.-Ermelindis (V) church in Meldert near Hoegaarden (Flemish Brabant). The saint has a sanctuary in the church and at the back of a corner of what was the old cemetery, a beautiful detached chapel with mausoleum from the 13th century. On Whit Monday, a procession still goes out in honor of the saint. Ermelindis lived here as a hermit until his death in 600. It is invoked for paralysis, fever and eye diseases. The war memorial in front of the church tells you that... "Fighting to the death for Vryheid" gives you the "joy of eternal truth." Walk towards Tienen. You will reach the front door of the castle estate in no time. The castle (2) - along the road - is still there but it is now a college. Until 1940, noble families lived here. Just before leaving the forest, you have a beautiful view of the keep and the castle on the left. The surrounding Meldertbos (3) is now a nature reserve. We work hard to restore nature and culture. The interesting elements of the construction of the park of the 20th century must also be fully meaningful. To this end, three hundred poplars were recently cut down.
2. Take the trail that starts on the right side of the driveway where the poles are. It takes you through a still somewhat wild nature to the Keulenstraat. Turn left here, passing a former Sint-Rochus chapel, and continue straight until you reach the T-junction of the Gaatstraat/Waversesteenweg. Turn left and 200 m further right into the fields, the Schoorbroekstraat. On the right is the bell tower of L'Ecluse, on the other side of the linguistic border. You cross a road and arrive at Rosdel, 67 ha of natural oasis of Natuurpunt (4), a stream valley with old meadows, reeds, roughs, alder pants and poplars, which are also cut here. Among the birds are many gray and yellow buntings and on the list of mammals the extremely rare hamster.
3. At the end of the road you walk left and about 1 km further, again at a T-junction, turn left. Then you stay on the right, also at the intersection a little oblique, you walk on the right. After walking straight for a while, he turns right again for a while. Enjoy the panoramas, climb to a grove on the 'Kop'. Turn right and turn left with it. Descent to the hamlet of Nerm. Left. You pass in front of a chapel Saint-Antoine (5) with in addition to Antonius, five lovers and six ladies. Note the old sacrificial block. The natural stone that has been widely used here and elsewhere in the region for the construction of houses and other buildings is Gobertange stone. It is still operated a few kilometers away, in Mélin, one of the "Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia". A little further a second chapel of N.D. de Lourdes. At a fork half a kilometre further, keep left and then turn left (red and green signage) uphill, out of the Nermbeek valley. Then turn right and 400 m further left (red), a wide hollow road.
4. At the end you choose the right and at the water tower (6) you walk straight. Follow the Meldert-Hoegaarden road on the left, then turn right towards the centre of St.-Katarina-Houtem (direction Hoksem). Rise. St.-Katarina is a village on the plateau. At a fork you choose the left, unless you first want to go to the late Gothic Katarina Chapel (7) (a protected monument) on the right. Open from 1/6 to 30/9 on Thursdays. Fri. drunk. sun. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). After 750 m you cross the road to Tienen. One kilometer further (first concreted, then country road) you are in Molenbeek in the middle of another nature reserve of 82 ha: the valleys of the Mene and the Jordan (8). A beautiful place that reminds you of the Voerstreek.
5. At the fence, you go down through the wooden fence. Take the forest road on the left shortly before the stream. Just before the farm Oude Molen (9) turn left (still uphill) then right. On a paved road, turn right and then at the edge of the forest turn left, continue through the Molenbeek valley, pass the cemetery (10) and up to the church of Meldert.