Through the fields around the Tiegemberg

The starting point is the car park just opposite the Sint-Arnolduspark on the Tiegemberg. In the center of Tiegem, part of Anzegem, there are clear signposts. Cross the street and walk right to the top of the Tiegemberg. In the sharp left turn into the Meuleberg. On the right is a watchtower and a little further the Bergmolen, both on private property. The Bergmolen is a millstone earthen veil from 1880, protected as a monument since 1960. Continue on the Meuleberg until the T-junction, with the chapel of Our Lady of Old Meulehoeve (1990). Turn left and after just 10 m right into a narrow, tiled road. On the paved road straight ahead and 300 m further left into the Waashoek. After 350 m, ignore the paved road on the left and continue straight on the wide paved dirt road. The view of the area between Lys and the Scheldt reaches miles and the church in front of you at the end is the SintAntoniuskerk of Ingooigem. The beautiful kouterweg takes you after 1 km to Het Lijsternest, where Stijn Streuvels (pseudonym of Frank Lateur, 1871-1969) lived and worked for more than 60 years. There he wrote, among others, De Vlaschaard, Het leven en de 2 1 V dood in den ast and De teleurgang van de Waterhoek. The Lijsternest is now the Stijn Streuvels Provincial Museum. The study contains an impressive library of about 6,000 books and the living room and work room the original furniture. The museum is closed until 2011 for renovation and modernization work.

After a possible visit, cross the lively steenweg, walk left and after 250 m right into the Otegemsesteenweg. The church on the right opposite is the Sint-Amandus and Sint-Annakerk of Otegem. At the first corner, straight into the Biestbeekstaat. The view of the Scheldt valley remains breathtaking and the high chimneys and plumes of smoke on the left are those of the Ruien power plant. After about 1 km you choose the fork on the left, Mussestraat, and another 50 m you walk left in a narrow and tiled path. The path becomes a paved road and takes you 600 m further on the stone road. Cross, walk straight into Ruiffeleindestraat and after 600 m turn left onto Ter Biest. Just after the café of the farm Den Ouden Koestal, you leave the asphalt in the bend and walk on the right on a wide field road. Cross the paved road and continue straight on a gravel road. The gravel road becomes a narrow, tiled road and takes you 600m further on the paved road. Turn right here and after 250 m at the left fork into the Kaankouter. Ignore the Kaandries and walk straight ahead and 100 m further left into the Drieskouter. The church on the right opposite is the Sint-Arnolduskerk in Tiegem. Steadily on the rise. After 800 m, cross the stone road and continue straight into the Bergstraat. Ignore Heinsdal on the right, but continue to the right 150 m further. You pass the Sint-Arnoldus liquor distillery and 100 m further you turn left into the Kapelledreef. At Tsplitsing you choose the left and 20 m further you walk to the right via a pedestrian lock in the beautiful Sint-Arnoldus Park. Keep left along the ponds and cross the water at the second bridge and thus by a staircase leading to the SintArnolduskapel. Saint Arnold of Tiegem (c. 1040 – 1087) was a knight who became a clergyman. He is the patron saint of Tiegem and brewers and has been venerated here for centuries against eye diseases. Walk from the chapel to the left after the Maison de la Source and 150 m further, at the end of the concrete road, you go straight up, climbing considerably through the flowery meadow. At the top, you arrive through a pedestrian lock on a paved road. Turn right and after 50 m the car park is across the street.