The municipality of Laarne has remained an attractive rural community, despite its residential character around the center. Highlights include the protected village core and the impressive moated castle, one of the best-preserved water castles in Belgium. The still-inhabited castle contains an extensive silver collection that can be visited. The straight castle avenue with two rows of trees between the castle and the church was constructed in the mid-17th century by the lord of Laarne. In 2012, during the renovation of the village center, the chestnut trees were replaced by young summer oaks. Along the way, we also pass a moated farm and the historical estate “Kattenheye” with its old access gate. Laarne is also known as a witch village: it was not spared from the witch craze that plagued Europe for three centuries. In 1607, six witch trials were initiated, four of which ended on the burning stake. Today, various “witch activities” take place, and there is even a witch walking trail, witch beer, and much more…

Directions

With your back to the entrance of café De Fonteyn, walk towards the church.

At the side of the church, take a right (protected village view with the church, former brewery across the street, and town hall).

You walk on the GR along the Castle Avenue between the young trees and arrive at the castle of Laarne.

The castle of Laarne is a still-inhabited castle from the 13th century. The pointed round towers and the imposing square keep date back to that time. Over the centuries, it was extensively renovated, and by the 17th century, the castle had developed into an attractive noble summer residence.
The castle is open for visits. You will find exceptional furniture, tapestries, paintings, and a European-famous silver collection.

Here you go left. At the next intersection with the picnic bench, immediately take the unpaved road to the right. At the intersection with the small grove, go right, and at the T-junction with the asphalt road, go left. Almost immediately, turn right (GR - Short Eekhoekstraat). Follow this street until you reach Eekhoekstraat. Cross over the zebra crossing here and go left. 50 m further, at the glass bulbs, take Driesstraat to the right. Further on, the first street to the right (Koewegstraat) - carefully follow the GR signs. After 700m and 100 m before the grove, turn left (GR). 20 m further, the GR goes right and you go straight ahead, to turn left after 150 m (Kieckenshagewegel). Follow the twists of the path. At the T-junction (moated farm), go right (Dammersrede). After 75 m, turn left and at the T-junction with the large asphalt road, go right (Dries). This street with quite busy traffic continues into the Lagen Heirweg.

To our left, you can see the access to the Damvallei, a low-peat area formed by some meanders of the Schelde.

Opposite a road with an information board about the Damvallei, go left and immediately right between the horse pastures until you reach a horse dairy (Goed ten Kattenheye) with an old (former) access gate.

The former Goed ten Cattenaye has been protected as a monument since 1997, particularly this access gate and the moat. Agricultural activity has been present on this site since Gallo-Roman times. The current gate building is believed to date back to the 18th century. To our right, we see the old access avenue to the farm.
Today, the estate houses the Horse Dairy 't Kattenheye

A brief right/left movement and follow the GR straight past the horse stables. The dirt road becomes a narrow path (Koeweglos) between the meadows and continues through a small grove.

Past Kattenheye, we enter the particularly beautiful and moist valley of the Maanbeek.

At the intersection of Bankgatrede and Koeweglos, leave the GR and go left. At the T-junction, go right and at the Y junction, 125 m further, again go right (Meersstraat 1-3). Continue straight along Brugsken Wieë, cross a wooden bridge, and follow the path to a wooden shelter. At the Y junction, take the right (and do not go to the asphalt road). At the T-junction, go left until you reach the buildings of Veldstraat. Caution: at house no. 12 and electricity pole 1049, take the narrow path to the left between hedges and buildings until you reach the street.

Go left here until you reach Café De Fonteyn.