Wommersom: Big and Small Gete Hike

Discover the soothing nature around Zoutleeuw. Flat landscape hiking in the valleys of the Great and Small Gete. From the church in Wommersom, we head north to the banks of the Great Gete. In this valley, we notice the silence, with only nature sounds caressing our ears; now and then, we hear in the distance the activity of a farmer or a forester. On the left and right, a green patchwork of fields, the colors of the seasons are a feast for the eyes. This old river landscape is characterized by expansive swampy meadows, locally lined with rows of trees or hedges, especially in the flood area "Laterbroeken," and small deciduous forests on the valley slopes. After a brief passage through the nature reserve "Doysbroek-Viskot," we cross the 's Hertogengracht and reach the beautiful rural Melkwezer after a gentle ascent, with its beautiful Sint-Pancratius church and the renovated village square. Following the Moesbeek, we reach the Small Gete, which literally leads us to the charming city of Zoutleeuw, the art center of Flanders-Brabant. This former port city thrived in the Middle Ages due to its location on the important trade route Bruges-Cologne. The Small Gete was one of the most important trade routes in the Duchy of Brabant between the 13th and 16th centuries. Here, the Leeuwenaren built the most magnificent buildings: the Sint-Leonardus church with its intact late Gothic interior is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, the town hall, built by architect Keldermans, the meat hall, the cloth hall, etc.
After a refreshing break in this historic setting, we head southwest to the valley of the Small Gete. It will accompany us all the way to the rural village of Orsmaal-Gussenhoven, where we can admire the mill of Orsmaal, the Gorismill. After some quiet country roads, we finally reach the end of this sporty and cultural hike.