Ravenstein Experience Walking Route

“Good stories belong in a book,” says winemaker Dirk Talpe. At ten locations in Kruiseke, we figuratively open a novel. One story is about the vineyard, the other about the rich history of the village. By scanning a QR code with a smartphone, we dive deeper into the story with the help of a film with archive footage. The narration is by Dirk.

40 -> 37          Roman beacon

A warm southern wind glides over the Amerikaberg. We look out over the Leievallei all the way to French Flanders. In the vineyard, varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier are ripening. At a weather station (2), we learn that a beacon stood on the hill, which the Roman legions navigated by as they marched through Gallia Belgica.

37 -> deviate -> 42   Idyllic camper parking

Upon leaving the vineyard, we turn left onto Klijtbosstraat. In a second vineyard (5), varieties that are particularly suitable in times of climate change grow due to their age. “Because they withstood little ice ages and the warm Burgundian period,” teaches Dirk in the accompanying film.

Camper parking Ravenstein is surrounded by the vineyards where the grapes for the still wines ripen. There is a pond with a terrace for the parking spots. We turn right onto Vossaardestraat towards junction 42.

42 -> 43 -> deviate -> 44        Tender beginning

At junction 43, we first continue towards 44. A series of neighborhood paths brings us to the center. The Heilig Hartkerk (7) was built with funds from the British Eden family. Lieutenant John Eden was killed during a reconnaissance on the Amerikaberg in October 1914. His younger brother Anthony became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 40 years later.

In front of community center De Knippelaar (8), the book tells us about a 150-year-old folk game that is played with great dedication in Kruiseke on Easter Monday. Here, too, it is an added value to watch the film. A plush cat is placed in a stone jug that is smashed to pieces with a willow branch. Those who succeed in freeing the cat appear on the list of the master cat’s masters.

Here we leave the walking network and go right behind the center along the soccer field of Sparta Kruiseke. At the T-junction, we turn right into Tabakstraat and then left into Nieuwe Zoetendaalstraat. Chickens are scurrying around in Wijngaard De Valk (9), where the wine adventure for Dirk and Patricia and their three children began a few years ago. At the next intersection, we turn left into Hoge Bossenstraat.

 44 -> 45 -> 40            Bowl valley

Just past junction 45, the path becomes unpaved. We descend into a bowl-shaped valley with gently rolling fields and green meadows. Partridges scurry away from the grass. The path bends towards the busier Kruisekestraat. At the chapel of Our Lady of Salette, we take the quiet side street on the left that brings us back to the vineyard.

Ideal quiet walk for those who enjoy the combination of walking, heritage, and the story of the winemaker. Don’t forget your smartphone!

(Marijn Follebout, 22-4-2025)