The Ghent district of Zwijnaarde was once (before the merger of 1977) one of the richest municipalities in our country. It also looks back on a rich past.

Text and photo Guido Elias

On January 19, 1526, Isabella of Austria, sister of Emperor Charles V and granddaughter of Mary of Burgundy, and former queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, died in the Castle of Zwijnaarde after an illness. She was only 25 years old. And in 1929, the writer Karel Van de Woestijne also died in Zwijnaarde. During this walk, you will follow in their footsteps. This surprising walk takes you along quiet country roads, past meadows, a unique vineyard, fish ponds, along the (old) Schelde river, and through the picturesque neighboring village of Zevergem, where time has stood still. But above all, it follows numerous charming slow roads. This sturdy hike starts at the St. Nicholas Church and the beautiful kiosk. Easily accessible from Ghent St. Peter's by tram 2.

The route

Start at the church and kiosk on Dorpsstraat. Continue for 250 m through Zandvoordestraat, on the left of the former town hall. Then turn left to follow Hondelee (past a chapel on your right), past the VC Zwijnaarde football field, and a bit further, take a left onto Zwartekobenstraat. Follow this quiet road for 1.2 km. After quite a while, you'll pass on your right Wijndomein Waes (1), whose wines have been awarded the best Belgian wine several times in recent years (www.wijndomeinwaes.be). Crossing a little bridge, you will reach the Zonneput fish ponds and the old Schelde river. Here, turn right along the wide towpath, the Zonneputtragel, which after 1.3 km continues alongside the water as Trekweg. Walk 2.1 km further along the water, past the Scheldemeersen Nature Reserve. At the cycling junction sign 40, turn right and follow towards junction 34 along the Vredespad. Follow this path for 1.4 km; you will also pass the locally well-known old inn Doornhammeke (2). A considerable distance further, shortly past café De Ponthoeve, turn right onto Pont Zuid (leave Landuitstraat to the left). After about 700 m at the roundabout, take a left onto Veldstraat. (Alternative: go straight through at the roundabout via Dorp, O.L.V. Hemelvaart Church, and Pont Noord to Heerweg Zuid). After 300 m in Veldstraat, turn right onto Molenstraat and continue straight for 1 km. Then turn right and shortly after, take a left onto Heerweg Zuid for 1.4 km (over the highway bridge). At the intersection, take a left onto Eedstraat and after 400 m turn right into Hekers. 300 m further back, turn right into Laurierstraat. After 100 m, past Gemberstraat, turn left onto Muizenbulkpad (at the bench). Several paths follow straight ahead and you will cross some streets (Achterhekers and Ter Linden). You will now arrive at sports hall Hekers. To the left of the sports hall runs Halfbunderpad; follow it until Hutsepotstraat. Cross that over and continue on Halfbunder until you reach Tramstraat. Here, turn right, past the mill and then turn right onto Heerweg Noord to the intersection (at Brasserie Oud Gemeentehuis). Now turn left into Prelaatsdreef. At the end, turn right past the cemetery to the starting point, the village square. Before leaving Prelaatsdreef, take a look at the already mentioned Castle of Zwijnaarde: right in front of you beneath the highway viaduct as you exit Prelaatsdreef.

Need more walking inspiration? Visit www.pasar.be/wandeltips