Introduction

Nature walk through the beautiful Merelbeekse Scheldevallei. You walk past two historical sites, marked as take-your-time spots from Pasar, and you walk a large part along the Scheldedijk. A course full of little birds, boats, and healthy air. A Merelbeke paradise!

Route description

You start from the parking lot of the church. Turn right (Sint-Elooistraat). Take the first path on the right (= Cottemwegel). Take the first path left downwards. You arrive at the busy Gaversesteenweg. Take the zebra crossing on the left to cross the road and step onto the cobblestone path (= Brandegems Ham). Take some time to read the information board “The Scheldevallei in Merelbeke” and then continue along the path over the bridge of the Melsenbeek. You now arrive at a nice tourist spot. The Sint-Elooikapel. This was chosen as a PASAR take-your-time spot. Continue past the Sint-Elooikapel. At the fork, you go right (this is also the Rodelandroute 1), moving away from the meander. You follow the concrete road (= Oude Pontweg). Enjoy the beautiful, peaceful nature. After 1.2 km, take the asphalt road on the right at the fork. At the T-junction with the Pontweg, turn left and 20 m further turn left again at the street name sign Pontweg. Then continue past a small chapel on the Kerkhoekwegel.

Here you are at the second historical site. At the end of the 7th century and beginning of the 8th century, the Christianization and missionary work by Saint Amandus began along the Schelde. This led to the establishment of churches with Saint Peter as the patron saint. A church was built here. In 1071, this church was rebuilt. The ‘Kerkhoek’ still shows the traces of the then-existing church with cemetery, which remained until 1874. A small hedge was planted on the outer walls of the old church building so that you can still estimate the size of the church! This site is also called “De Kerkhoek”. From here, a procession would depart some time ago to the recently visited Sint-Elooikapel. Meanwhile, the current church on the Hundelgemsesteenweg had already been taken into use.

Walk through the meadows and continue following the Kerkhoekwegel, ignoring the “Blauwesteenwegel” on the right. You come to a fork. Take the left path parallel next to the bridge.

Thus, you arrive at the path next to the Schelde. Turn left. This piece of Schelde is actually the old Scheldearm that is still used as a tidal arm. Continue along the Trekweg and you will pass a sluice on the tidal arm. From here, you continue on the Trekweg along the Schelde. With some luck, a large boat coming from France might pass by. You walk past the Sint-Elooisham. Continue past the “Ouden End” to the next side path on the left (= Veerpontwegel). At the next intersection, turn left (= Langeweide). You are now walking through the meadows and along an old Schelde meander. Stay among the fields. Enjoy the natural beauty!

The meadows in the Scheldemeersen are intentionally kept marshy. Until about 60 years ago, this was simply a “flood area”. Now it is a paradise for waterfowl. You walk over the bridge of the Melsenbeek to the busy Gaversesteenweg. You cross the street (take the zebra crossing if there is one) and go left to Sint-Elooistraat. You enter it, straight ahead to the parking lot of the church.