27 Oct '16

Quirky Flanders: Cycle down the Golden River

Summary

Flanders is full of offbeat things to do. This week, we cycle down the picturesque Leie river near Ghent

 

The odd and the unexpected

Once called the Golden River because it flowed among flax fields, the Leie meanders through the flat countryside outside Ghent, passing sleepy villages where Flemish artists once painted. This is a quiet region of cobbled roads, fields of cows and local bars.

Follow the river south of Drongen abbey, heave your bike onto the free ferry at Afsnee and drink a beer in Cafe Sfinx on the other bank. From here, some serious pedalling brings you eventually to the Flemish Renaissance turrets of Ooidonk castle. Ring the caretaker’s bell at the entrance if you want to look around.

It’s then just a few more kilometres to the riverside bar ’t Oud Sashuis, located in an abandoned lock-keeper’s house. The interior is crammed with shipping mementoes, old photographs and dried sausages hanging on strings, while French songs play in the background. Use the numbered cycle route signs, or knooppunten, to plot a route.

Free e-book

Flanders is full of offbeat things to do. They can be surprising, sometimes a little disturbing, but always unexpected. Most are off the beaten track, away from the crowds, in places that are sometimes hard to find.

Discover 20 of the region's oddest sites and activities in our new free e-book and start your journey into the unexpected.

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