Top 4 Caves around Merelbeke

The Aquarium Caves in Ghent were a popular attraction in the Citadel Park, housed in a cave-like structure. These “caves” were part of a miniature amusement park known in the mid-20th century for its exotic aquarium fish and other curiosities. The caves had a mysterious feel, with a combination of artificial rock formations and water features displaying various species of fish. Although once a popular place for families and children, the Aquarium Caves have fallen into disrepair over the years. Today they still exist, but are no longer used as a public attraction. The nostalgia surrounding the caves lives on among many older Ghent residents who still remember the place from their youth.

The cave first opened in 1879 and had 33 aquariums at the time. Ghent residents came to marvel at freshwater and saltwater fish, but the idea did not last long.

You don't see something like that very often

This Lourdes cave belongs to the Franciscan monastery (since 1875) that is located behind the Sint-Pieters-Banden and Sint-Berlindis churches. The cave was built on the initiative of August De Rouck, who lived in the country house on the Breivelde Domain and was also one of the most important financiers of the construction of the church. The cave is a beautiful example of so-called cement rustic as it was applied to places of pilgrimage. The entrance gate in the brick wall is trimmed with rockwork. On the ground floor there is a small chapel whose walls and ceiling are covered with imitation of rockwork and stalactites and where a door next to the altar gives access to the monastery. Above this chapel is an artificial 'mountain' with rockwork, largely hidden behind busy vegetation, with a statue of Our Lady in a niche and in front of it a statue of a kneeling Bernadette. On the right wall in the chapel hang a number of ex-votos, objects that serve as a support for supplication and/or as a thank you to God or a saint for a favor received. Source: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/208919

An artificial grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. The people's shrine was built in 1879 in Tournai natural stone, which was transported from the Scheldt in Wetteren by horse and cart. Opposite the cave, seven brick chapels were built in 1954 containing representations of the seven joys of Mary. The domain experienced its peak in the 1950s and 1960s when hundreds of believers attended the solemn May celebrations. In recent years, 'De Rots' has mainly become a place of silence for people who seek solace in religion and nature. After volunteers had refreshed the sanctuary in recent years, a new, wheelchair-friendly access road has recently been constructed with a permeable paving on both sides for parking. The weathered chapel circuit has also been completely renovated.

The Marian Cave, built in a bend of the Cotthem road in Sint-Lievens-Houtem, is an artificial cave from the Marian year 1954. It is a fairly large elaborate cave with two levels between green plantations. In recent years, the copy of the Lourdes Grotto became overgrown by plants. Stones crumbled and the statues of Mary and Bernadette no longer had any appearance. In 2016, the cave was renovated by volunteers from Okra Oombergen and rededicated by pastor Paul De Neve.

Beautiful, quiet and green environment. Recommended for cycling or walking with the proximity of Cotthembos and the Oomberg forests.

Place of pilgrimage of Our Lady of Lourdes, built in 1874 by order of Margravine de Courtebourne, on whose domain the place of pilgrimage was created and accessible via Onze-Lieve-Vrouwdreef. The immediate cause for the creation of the place of pilgrimage was the construction of a fashionable aquarium in the shape of a rock (reminiscent of a hermit from the Margravine's family) in the garden of the Margraviess de Courtebourne castle in 1870-71, according to a design. by architect E. Van Hoecke-Peeters. At the request of the then pastor Moreels, a statue of Mary was placed in the rock. After the solemn consecration of the statue in the cave on June 29, 1873, the park of Slotendries Castle was gradually opened to Marian worshippers. After the miraculous healing of Pieter De Rudder on April 7, 1875, the place gained great fame as the so-called place of pilgrimage of Our Lady of Lourdes-Oostakker. Margravine de Courtebourne provided land along the pilgrimage road for construction and also partly contributed to the construction costs of a church, monastery, shop, hotel and several schools. It is said that architect J. Bethune was involved in the construction of all this.