Sentse Five-Villages-Route

From an invoice from the year 1187, created for the Count of Flanders, we know that there was a large marshland area in the vicinity of Aardenburg at that time. Later sources indicated that this area, rich in peat underground, encompassed the entire parish of Sint-Laureins. Margareta of Constantinople granted permission to extract this peat in the second half of the 13th century. At the same time, the repeated floods also contributed more than their share to giving this agricultural area its current shape. Today, one encounters a landscape where both the forces of nature and the struggle of man against them have left their marks. In this landscape of ditches and dikes, much can also be discovered about human creativity. The story of Reynaert de Vos is often set here. Here and there in the five villages that together form Sint-Laurens, one meets figures from this story.

SIGNAGE
Hexagonal, light green signs with the name of the route.

SAFETY
Relatively safe route.

TYPE OF PATH
Quiet, rural roads. No major traffic routes. 0% traffic-free.

RECOMMENDED STARTING POINT
Tourist Information Center, Dorpsstraat 87, Sint-Laureins.

INFORMATION
Tourist Information Center Sint-Laureins, Dorpsstraat 87, 9980 Sint-Laureins, 09 218 76 40, kathleen.seynhaeve@publilink.be, www.sint-laureins.be.

BIKE RENTAL
Bike shop Danny Vergauwe, Leemweg 82, 9980 Sint-Laureins, 09 379 02 68.

Sportshop Alain, Bentillestraat 9, 9970 Kaprijke, 09 379 80 43.

FOOD AND DRINK
Tavern De Witte Swaen, Ketterijstraat 2, 9988 Sint-Margriete, 09 379 96 86.

Krekenpoort, Sint-Janspolderdijk 2, 9982 Sint-Jan-in-Eremo, 09 379 87 37.
Above all, we remember the cozy garden and the well-prepared snacks from this very peacefully located establishment.