The best cycling routes around Winnezeele

A fairytale discovery! Deeply hidden among the rhododendrons and old trees of Kasteeldomein De Lovie, you'll suddenly stumble upon this magnificent historic garden pavilion. With its classic columns and unique domed roof, this memorable 'gloriette' looks like it's straight out of a romantic picture book. The ultimate secret tip to slow down and admire during your bike tour!

Sint-Bavokerk – Watou's historic heart Anyone walking or cycling through Watou can hardly fail to notice the striking Sint-Bavokerk. This historic church has been the heart of the village for centuries and, with its graveyard wall and characteristic architecture, is an atmospheric eye-catcher on Watouplein. The church also has a special connection to the art that so typifies Watou. During the Kunstenfestival Watou, the historic interior is regularly given a contemporary interpretation, bringing together old and new in a surprisingly beautiful way. So, during your visit, be sure to take some time to look up, step inside the church, or enjoy the view from the square. History, art, and the typical atmosphere of Watou come together beautifully here.

The special story behind the Stone of Remembrance of Bandaghem Anyone visiting Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery quickly notices a striking detail: among the 816 white gravestones stands an imposing Stone of Remembrance. Why is it here, in a cemetery that is relatively small today? The answer lies in the history of the cemetery. When architect Sir Reginald Blomfield designed Bandaghem in the 1920s, the site was considerably larger. There were then four large plots with French fallen soldiers. Together with the other graves, the total exceeded a thousand, and the cemetery received its monumental Stone of Remembrance. Later, the French soldiers were repatriated or transferred to other French cemeteries. The four plots disappeared, but the heavy memorial stone remained. As a result, Bandaghem has a special character today: a relatively small and intimate cemetery with a monument that commemorates the much larger site that once existed here. A beautiful piece of hidden history to reflect on when visiting this special place.

Casualty Clearing Stations (CCS) – medical aid stations behind the front A Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) was, during the First World War, a type of medical transit station behind the front line. Wounded soldiers were brought here by ambulance from the front zone. Doctors and nurses assessed the wounded and determined who needed immediate care or surgery and who could be transported further. A CCS was not a regular hospital: soldiers usually stayed there only for a short time. After initial medical care, if their condition allowed, they were transported further to larger hospitals, often by hospital train. The location was deliberately chosen: close enough to the front to reach the wounded quickly, but far enough to remain out of range of the heaviest enemy artillery. In Haringe, the 62nd and 63rd Casualty Clearing Stations were located in 1917. The thousands of wounded who passed through here temporarily made the area an important medical center behind the front.

Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery A quiet, impressive place with a special war story. During WWI, two British Casualty Clearing Stations were located here, where wounded soldiers were cared for and operated on. The name Bandaghem is British soldier humour: bandage combined with the Flemish suffix -gem. The 62nd CCS also treated around 5,000 soldiers with shell shock. Today, 816 war victims are buried here, including 39 German soldiers. The imposing Cross of Sacrifice and the sober white gravestones make this a poignant stop for those who want to experience the history of the Westhoek.

Cycling through the hop cathedrals 🍺🌿 The Sint-Sixtusstraat near Westvleteren is a delightfully quiet cycle path that takes you right through the typical landscape of the Poperinge hop region. On either side, meter-high wooden poles and wires rise up, making you feel like you are in an open-air cathedral of hops. During the growing season, the hop bines twist ever higher, forming an impressive green backdrop. Even after the harvest, the tall poles and wires remain a special and photogenic landscape. And of course, you'll be cycling here close to the Sint-Sixtus Abbey of Westvleteren, in the middle of a region where hops and beer have been linked for centuries. Pedal gently on, look up, and enjoy one of the most typical landscapes of the Westhoek!

Hop fields around the St. Sixtus Abbey 🍺🌿 Typical Poperingse hop fields regularly appear around the St. Sixtus Abbey. The meters-high wooden poles and wire nets form an impressive landscape where the hop plants enthusiastically climb upwards in the summer. In spring, the first green tendrils appear, and in late summer, the fragrant hop cones are ready for harvest. Even outside the growing season, the tall poles remain a recognizable feature of the landscape. A typical piece of the Poperingse region that immediately gives your bike tour around the abbey extra character! 🚴‍♂️

Nice dirt path parallel to the road.