Walking on the slow roads in the undulating green: the land of Houtem lends itself to complete relaxation between the small valleys and the fields and meadows, bordered by crooked pollard willows and dead straight poplars.

Sint-Lievens-Houtem, which includes the municipalities of Letterhoutem, Vlierzele and Zonnegem, presents itself as the green springboard to the Flemish Ardennes. The landscape is slightly undulating and has a distinct green character. The municipality has a lot of slow roads. The landscape around the valleys of both the Letterbeek and the Smoorbeek consists of small wooded areas, interspersed with open fields and meadows that are often enclosed by pollard willows or centuries-old poplars. In Letterhoutem you start at the brick hall church from 1946. We go to the picturesque Vlierzele and from there to the beautiful presbytery garden of Zonnegem. Through the valley of the Smoorbeek we trek back to Letterhoutem.

There

Public transport: Bus 92 (de Lijn) – stop Kerkstraat – little service – street name: Klein Zottegem. From the stop, head northeast and continue for 50 m onto LA onto Kerkstraat. You arrive at the church.

Parking: Kerkstraat 16 – Sint-Lievens-Houtem (Letterhoutem) – parking next to the church

Be sure to stop for

1. Valley of the Letterbeek
2. Church of Vlierzele
3. Presbytery and garden Zonnegem
4. Valley of the Smoorbeek

Read more about the interesting stops on this hike in Pasar Hiking magazine (December 2023).
Route by Mark Dedapper commissioned by Mark Dedapper Pasar asbl/vzw