Tongeren's Surroundings
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EN www.tongeren.be Explore Tongeren's surroundings haspengouw: IT’S WORTH SEEING tongeren and the euregio EN www.tongeren.be Experience 2016 Tongeren TOURISM GUIDE OUR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS DINING IN TONGEREN TUSCANY OF THE NORTH A WEEKEND WITH AMBIORIX A RICH HISTORY Discover Tongeren at your own pace TOP FLEMISH ATTRACTIONS History revamped Tours in the Tongeren region Untitled-1.inddTongeren2016_NL_v1.indd 1 72 30/11/15 06:43 Tongeren2016_NL_v1.indd 1 30/11/15 06:2106:53 Don't forget our tongeren tourism guide 2016! Tongeren_Flyer_8p_EN.indd 1 21/12/15 13:36 Explore tongeren's surroundings |� Haspengouw haspengouw: it's worth seeing Tongeren is located in beautiful Haspengouw, one of the largest fruit regions in Europe. Haspengouw is a landscape filled with castles, fortresses, religious monuments and marl caves that immerse you in the region’s rich past. Tongeren has Roman ruins and medieval remains. Its generous inhabitants will gladly spoil you with some of the many local specialities that the fertile landscape produces. Alden Biesen that is several kilometres long. You’ll Limburg’s cycle route network and find fossils, drawings of prehistoric it’s the starting point for several animals, mushroom farms and magnificent nature walks. Bilzen colonies of bats. Visitor’s centre is best known as the home of ‘De Brug’ opened in the renovated the commandery but it’s also a bridge across the Albert Canal in cosy Demer River town with an Vroenhoven in 2015. This visitor’s attractive historic centre, charming centre houses a museum dedicated shops and it is the hometown of to World War II. German conquest of the legendary Jazz Bilzen festival. the bridge on 10 May 1940 signified This festival took place from 1965 the beginning of WWII in Belgium. to 1981 and it comes to life when you follow the Demer Walk: an More information: interesting walk that takes you past Toerisme Riemst, Maastrichtersteenweg 2 b, all the festival’s remarkable places. 3770 Riemst, +32 12 44 03 75, [email protected], More information: www.toerismeriemst.be. Toeristisch Onthaal Alden Biesen-Bilzen, Kasteelstraat 6, 3740 Bilzen, 15 +32 89 51 56 54, [email protected], Bilzen: heart of the km www.bilzen.be, www.alden-biesen.be castles landscape Water fortresses, castles and domains, beautiful country estates… For centuries the nobility left its 11 Riemst: small but lovely km mark on this region. Did you know Riemst is located between that more than 100 castles adorn Tongeren and Maastricht. It is the the landscape in Haspengouw? The last Flemish municipality before the jewel in its crown is the imposing border with the Netherlands. It is a commandery Alden Biesen in small town with 16,000 inhabitants Bilzen. Today Alden Biesen is a and it’s definitely worth a visit. magnificent heritage site with an Centuries of marl exploitation, which experience centre, cultural activities started before the 15th century, has and a conference centre. It is one resulted in an underground network of the operating bases for exploring Tongeren_Flyer_8p_EN.indd 2 21/12/15 13:36 Bilzen Hex 10 Best-of-Tongeren Hoeselt: nature km around the Hermitage Arrangements The Hermitage of Vrijhern doesn’t With Best of Tongeren, we put together need a therapeutic well to remain a unique package deals that you may personalise according to your likes and heavily visited place of pilgrimage. budget. Choose from various options Nevertheless, the thick layers and book your package online. 7 Greenspot Zammelen: km of clay in the area cause several a green treasure�house wells to rise. This is typically wet WWW.BEST-OF-TONGEREN.BE The picturesque village of Haspengouw! The inhabitants of Zammelen, a municipality of this region have been toiling and 16 Kortessem, rules over the valley plodding away in the heavy soil The gardens km of Hex Castle of the meandering Mombeek, at for centuries. Their sweat left deep the edge of Haspengouw’s loam marks in the landscape. The result Heers is located in the middle of plateau. A combination of water, is a varied landscape of marsh the rolling landscape of southern loam, lime and sand ensure that forests, orchards, fields, pastures, Haspengouw. It is a quiet town with alternating meadows, typical hedgerows and sunken roads. The unique assets for an unforgettable meadowlands, mysterious marshes Greenspot walk allows you to stay: hospitality, nature, history and and marsh forests attract rare discover this beautiful piece of several opportunities to experience plants and animal species in Haspengouw. supreme relaxation with your this valuable nature reserve. The family. It’s like a basket of fruit Greenspot Zammelen walk passes Signposted walks of 4, 6 and 8 km. from which you can select the through the Mombeek valley. It Departure point: Hermitage of Vrijhern, tastiest experiences! Hex Castle Kluisstraat, 3730 Vrijhern (Hoeselt). is one of the ten Greenspots that opens its gardens for garden lovers were developed by the Regional and specialists from Belgium and Landscape Haspengouw & Voeren abroad during the second weekend in Haspengouw. These are the of June (including the Friday) and highest quality walking areas in second weekend of September. Haspengouw. Ideal for discovering Hex is one of the most beautiful the most beautiful places in the historic country estates in Belgium. region. The castle’s gardens are known internationally for its collection of Signposted walks of 4, 6 and 7 km. wild and ancient roses. The vast Departure point: Sint-Amandusstraat, vegetable gardens with a traditional 3720 Zammelen (Kortessem). vegetable cellar are imposing. >>> Tongeren_Flyer_8p_EN.indd 3 21/12/15 13:36 The 15 km bilzen op verkenning vanuit tongeren |� Haspengouw 07 km zammelen 10 km hoeselt 22 sint-truiden km 11 12 km riemst km borgloon 16 km heers 12 Borgloon: fruity km landscapes Borgloon is the highest historic town in Flanders. From the fortress hill, near the church and the former castle of the Counts of Loon, you’ll enjoy beautiful panoramas of the fruit landscape. Together with Sint- Truiden, Borgloon is the heart of 22 the fruit region. During the blossom Sint-Truiden: km and harvest festivals, from April a city of monuments through October, many festivities Sint-Truiden is the sixth largest take place and fruit farms and wine monument city in Flanders with domains open their doors for a more than 100 religious monuments >>> tour. During a cycling trip or walk and 250 protected monuments. The original 19th-century park through the fields, be sure to pass Three towers dominate the city’s designed by Louis Fuchs, with the charming see-through church skyline: the belfry of the 16th- age-old trees and breathtaking ‘Reading between the lines’. It’s a century city hall, which is on the views, is amazing. Specialised plant great spot for a unique selfie photo. UNESCO World Heritage list, the breeders and garden specialists You can also catch your breath in Gothic tower of the Church of Our offer their products for sale and the mystical abbey Mariënlof, where Lady and the robust abbey tower. share their knowledge with visitors a few nuns still faithfully follow the The abbey tower is part of the Saint during the annual Garden Days at rules behind its thick walls. Trudo Abbey site. Sint-Truiden’s the castle. The programme includes residents (also known as ‘Binken’) lectures, demonstrations, walks More information: love good food! The city has cosy Toerisme Borgloon, Stadhuis, Markt, led by Belgian and international restaurants and pubs within walking 3840 Borgloon, +32 12 67 36 53, experts, and diverse exhibitions [email protected], www.borgloon.be. distance. Sunken roads and orchards, about the most diverse garden castles and chapels, square farms subjects. Enjoy the beautiful gardens and beautiful breweries - the and Hex Castle park all day long; versatility of Sint-Truiden is truly treat yourself to a cup of coffee impressive. Take a wonderful ride with a slice of Limburg pie or on a Vespa or bicycle past the something equally delicious from fruit trees and over the rolling one of the participating caterers. landscapes. More information: More information: Hex Gardens, GPS: Meerstraat, Toerisme St-Truiden, Grote Markt, 3870 Heers-Heks, [email protected], 3800 St-Truiden, +32 12 11 70 18 18, www.hex.be. [email protected], Can only be visited during the Open Garden www.toerisme-sint-truiden.be. Days in June and September. Tongeren_Flyer_8p_EN.indd 4 21/12/15 13:36 Explore tongeren’s surroundings |� the euregio tongeren Hasselt & the euregio Tongeren is part of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, an area between Hasselt, Maastricht, Liège, Aachen, Heerlen and Eupen, around the Meuse River to the west of the Rhine River. Due to its central location, you can easily explore the surrounding Euregio cities while staying in Tongeren. The cultural Liege, diversity, numerous shopping opportunities and culinary offerings in these fascinating cities are endless. 30 km Liège: must-see across the language border Liège is the capital of the Walloon province of the same name. The city lies on the border of Haspengouw (La Hesbaye in French) and the Ardennes, where the Ourthe River flows into the Meuse River. Its particularly rich history goes back to the Roman era. The city reached a high point during the Prince- Bishopric Liège (14th to 18th century). In popular speech Liège is also called La Cité Ardente or The Fervent City. It’s the largest tourist city in Wallonia and it has numerous sites worth discovering. The steep, forested hills that surround the city, the striking relief that results in many original vistas, and the city’s typical neighbourhoods make Liège very charming. A prominent folklore that the jovial, party-loving inhabitants of Liège hold in esteem, lively neighbourhoods and numerous restaurants make it a must-see during your stay in Tongeren.