Castle tour in Lovendegem

Starting place is parking De Speelboom in the Kerkstraat, near the town hall of Lovendegem.
Keep the town hall and sculpture group on the left and turn right at café "Kasteeldreef" in the Kasteeldreef. At café 't Lanterfanterken and the chapel turn right into the Larestraat. On the left immediately the first 'huys van plaisance' from a whole series of former country houses (private) in Lovendegem and rural borough Vinderhoute. At the second Larekapel turn left into the Vaartstraat, to the Brugse Vaart. Right to the Lovendegem bridge, up stairs and left over this Lobrug. All the way down turn right on the Lostraat, direction Merendree. About 150 m further turn left to the Peperhoek, a narrow agricultural road. Where the concrete ends on the left into the Ganzevijverwegel, a footpath between jumper wires. Past a small farm, at cycle junction 48, you leave this Ganzevijver to the right and go 50 m further left into another path, the Bloemakkerwegel. Bend along on this widening earth road to a T, then the Brouwerijstraat to the left and 30m further right into the Hooimeersslag. On the T turn right into the Vijverstraat (no sign), direction cycle junction 55. Follow the asphalt road with bicycle arrows and GR path. Turn left, the Vijverstraat becomes the Molendam. Follow this concrete road between willows and via the Molenbrug over the Kale to the Van Vlaenderensmolen from 1905.
At the street sign Molenslag, 150m past the mill, turn right into langekantweg. Bend through a medieval coulter to the Poekstraat. Then turn left until you reach a crossroads with the St. Anne's Chapel from 1648 and a drive to the well-hidden castle of Vinderhoute. Keep the chapel on the left and follow the Meirestraat, past another entrance gate, until you reach the Kasteellaan. Then turn left to the large castle gates, for a view of the park garden. Return and continue along the drive to the Drongense steenweg, with the Bierstal bridge on the left. Cross this busy road at the lights at a kindergarten and turn right until the second side street on the left. This Schouwbroekstraat curves up to the entrance bridge of the Schouwbroek castle from 1893 between giant chestnut trees. Past this idyllic spot, turn left into the Vredesdreef, with Beukenhof Castle, a mansion from 1870 and the library. In the village of Vinderhoute you end up on the cobblestones of the Dorsweg. Turn left for a look at the SintBavokerk (19th century), the cemetery and some cafes. Return and turn left 20m past the Vredesdreef into the Brugstraat. At the next intersection turn left into the Neerstraat, past the rear of the Dreefkasteel on the left and castle Ten Velde on the right at no. 1.
At the roundabout on the Drongense steenweg turn right over the Bierstal bridge. Continue to the N9, steenweg Gent-Eeklo. At the lights turn left and at the next lights left into the Appensvoorde to Lovendegem, along lanes, left Hof Van Parijs with pigeon tower, castle De Potter, country houses, large and small farms. Past Diepenbroeck Castle, now a home for the elderly, continue straight on to the Kasteeldreef. Turn right now and straight ahead, past town hall, car parks, cemetery, youth house and police station.
As an organ point, the original medieval castle of the Dons beckons the Lovendeghem in all its glory. Turn left into the Warandestraat, a little further left the Korfbalstraat and at the end right a church road to the Golfstraat and so to the St.-Martinuskerk (1896-97) on the Dorp. In front of the church, the Kerkstraat leads towards the town hall and parking.