Zottegem - Oombergenpad long loop

We start our walk at the Sint-Martinuskerk of Oombergen, known for its annual sale of offered bread. Oombergen (1119, Hvmberges) takes its name from a mountain. The place name has its roots in the Germanic "hunu berga", loosely translated: honey-colored mountain.

Put on your hiking boots and walk through the landscape in and around Cotthem that consists of large and small forest areas, interspersed with open fields and more closed areas with meadows, bordered by pollard willows.

Through a gate we walk into the parsonage garden. The rectory garden of Oombergen is a natural garden open to the public. The garden, since 2017 transformed into play nature with the play forest 'Droombergen', is located between the presbytery and the church of Oombergen and touches the nature reserve of the Oomberg forests and the Cotthembos. It is part of a nature reserve in the Flemish Ardennes in South-East Flanders (Belgium) that is situated on the territory of the municipalities of Sint-Lievens-Houtem, Zottegem (with borough of Oombergen) and Herzele (with borough of Hillegem) in the valleys of the Klokfonteinbeek and the Cotthembeek. The area is (partly) managed by the Flemish public service Agency for Nature and Forest (under the name 'Vallei van de Cotthembeek'). The forest and nature reserve is recognized as a European Natura 2000 area (Forests of the Flemish Ardennes and other South Flemish forests) and is part of the Flemish Ecological Network. Cotthem itself is a picturesque hamlet in the rural area between Sint-Lievens-Houtem and Oombergen. It consists of about twenty houses, some of which date back to the 18th century.

This route is not signposted. Comments about the route can be reported on toerisme@zottegem.be