This month we walk in the East Flemish municipality of Laarne, despite the residential character around the center still rural and attractive. The Prullenbos on the way is a small gem.

Text and photo Mark Dedapper

The eye-catchers of Laarne are the protected village center and the imposing walled castle, one of the best preserved moated castles in Belgium. The still inhabited castle houses an extensive silver collection that you can visit. The straight castle drive with two rows of trees between the castle and the church was built in the middle of the seventeenth century by the lord of Laarne. In 2012, the village centre was redeveloped, replacing young summer oaks with chestnut trees. Along the way we also pass a walled farm and the historic property Kattenheye with old entrance gate. A horse dairy is now located on this domain, where you can buy milk and care products.

The route

Parking: Mellestraat 1 in Laarne (castle moat). Bus stop De Lijn no. 34 – 'Laarne Kasteel'.

With the back to the castle RA - then first dirt road RA. Next road again RA. At T LA and 50 m further RA (Korte Eekhoekstraat). At T LA and 50 m further to square RA (Driesstraat). Next T RA. At the crossroads take the right branch and just past the electricity cabin the earth road RA (Dammersrede). After 200 m footpath LA. At the entrance of a walled farm RA. Turn left to T with asphalt – RA. Opposite an information board of the Dam valley briefly the earth road RA and a few meters further again RA. You will arrive at the buildings of the horse dairy Goed 't Kattenheye. Opposite the old entrance gate just RA and immediately LA along hangar. The field road turns into a narrow path between the meadows and further through a grove. On an X of field roads you go RD (Bankgatrede). On a wooden bench you turn left and continue to follow the field road. On betonweg RD (Veldstraat). On T (Dorpsstraat) LA towards the church. Just past the church RA (Molenstraat) and a little further to a large white house with chapel next to it again RA (Kouterdreef). Attention: where the main road turns to the right, follow the narrower asphalt road RD. At the end of asphalt the narrow path LA. To T RA and to next T (Termstraat) LA. Beyond house no. 21 road RA (Beelos). On T path RA - on asphalt again RA. In a bend of the road to the right, take the field road diagonally RD. On T with concrete road RA. About 200 m further you take the 1st earth road RA along the pond of the domain Prullenbos. Just past the Boskabanne building, take the RA path and leave the domain a little further. Via a number of zigzags you come to a T (concrete road) – RA. Next road LA (Hoogstraat). Follow this until you reach the Kasteeldreef – LA on the footpath between the still saplings. At the end you can enter the courtyard of the impressive castle. The bus stop is located at the end of the drive. For the car, you go LA for a while.