Averbode, Belgium
Hiking to Averbode Forest & Heath
Today we take you to discover one of our favorite hikes in Belgium. Located on the border of the provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, and Flemish Brabant, the Averbode Forest & Heath Domain is a nature reserve known for its heather carpets that turn mauve at the end of summer, but also for its abbey.
Hiking through the woods, heathlands and marshes of Averbode.
We begin our hike from the car park of the Averbode Abbey (⚠️ This is still free, but blue parking discs are now mandatory. The time limit is 2 hours, even on weekends and holidays.)
We walk along the road for a few metres before turning right and leaving the asphalt for wilder paths. This is where the walk truly begins for us. The late summer sun gently pierces the branches of the birches and pines, and our feet tread on sandy ground. Our eyes are amazed by the endless mauve carpets created by the flowering heather at this time of year.
The flowering of the heather
After the wildflowers in spring, the flowering of marsh heather in turn offers beautiful mauve and violet carpets at the end of summer in some parts of Belgium. This is a plant typical of heathlands, with a warm and humid climate, found in the Campine and the Hautes Fagnes. If you get close, you can observe all these small colored bells that contribute to its beautiful mauve landscapes.
To enjoy these flowered panoramas, we advise you to go to Averbode between early August and mid-September. We were able to fully enjoy the heather bloom by taking a walk there on August 15th.
💡 More ideas to enjoy the flowering heathers: Hike in the De Teut estate in Limburg.
Averbode Dune
We emerge from the woods into more open ground, cross a small wooden pontoon over a marsh, and begin the ascent of the sand dune. No need to reach the coast, enjoy a few strides in the sand away from the tourists.
Averbode Nature Reserve
Change of scenery, after leaving the dune and the sand, we find the mauve hues of wild heather. We enter a vast enclosure with a few water points that is guarded by a flock of goats or sheep. These take care of maintaining the estate by eating the unwanted plants. You may have the chance to cross paths with them on your way. 🐐🐑
Every season, the Averbode Nature Reserve puts on a different display of colours. After the mauve coat of heather, it's the autumn colours that dominate the landscape. This makes the scenery magical and a good excuse to return regularly. We've been there 3 times already, and each time, nature offered us a different picture.
Return to the forest
We leave our cute sheep to discover the other part of the Averbode estate. After carefully crossing the causeway, we follow the large wooded avenues for a few kilometers before encountering an open landscape again. This time there are several bodies of water that reflect the landscape like a mirror. We take a few minutes to breathe and savor the calm that this scene embodies.
Averbode Abbey
We gently resume our journey to complete this beautiful loop. We finish by passing by the famous Averbode Abbey. Built in 1134, it is managed by the brothers of the abbey, known as the Premonstratensians.
Visiting the Abbey of Averbode
During the day, you can freely visit the courtyard and the abbey church.
For a visit of the abbey itself, there are guided tours every Sunday at 3 pm (between Easter and All Saints' Day) for individual visitors. For group visits, it is only upon request.
ℹ️ Information and bookings on the Averbode Abbey website.
Practical Information
For practical purposes, the Averbode area is marked with node points. Two routes are listed: one of 4.9 km and one of 11.5 km. But nothing prevents you from creating your own using the marked paths.
This is where our Averbode hike ends, we hope you enjoyed this natural reserve as much as we did, as beautiful as it is unusual. Feel free to give us your feedback in the comments.
SHORT ITINERARY (4.9 KM)
🚩 Waypoints • 100 -98 - 293 - 292 - 104 - 286 - 285 - 101 - 281 - 279 - 294 - 96 - 293 - 98 - 100
🅿️ Parking • Abbey Parking (Blue Disc, max 2h) or Poortberg Parking.
🐕 Dogs allowed on leash throughout the route.
LONG ROUTE (11.5 KM)
🚩 Key Points • 100 - 98 - 107 - 384 - 144 - 292 - 104 - 286 - 285 - 101 - 281 - 294 - 279 - 273 - 81 - 79 - 205 - 70 - 73 - 274 - 75 - 86 - 85 - 100
🗺️ Itinerary • GPX track of our walk downloadable here.
🅿️ Parking • Abbey Parking (Blue Disc, max 2h) or Poortberg Parking.
🐕 Dogs allowed on leash throughout the route.
0 comment