The best walks and hikes around Linter

On the site of the current Sint-Leonardus church, there was a chapel – whose construction date is unknown – in honor of Saint Leonard of Noblac. After this chapel was elevated to a parish church in 1231, it was replaced by the current church, which had a long construction history: the monumental Gothic building was largely erected between the 13th and 16th centuries. The Sint-Leonardus church is rich in art treasures and owes its international fame mainly to them. The Iconoclastic Fury of 1566 and the French Revolution passed by the church without major damage, so that the impressive artistic heritage built up over centuries has largely been preserved: altarpieces, paintings, statues of saints, copper and silverware, vestments, and other devotional objects.

The Grote Markt of Zoutleeuw forms a beautiful historic setting that recalls the city's medieval wealth. The 16th-century town hall is a rare monument between Gothic and Renaissance. The Cloth Hall was built during the heyday of the wool trade. The Sint-Leonarduskerk is an elegant pearl with an impressive artistic heritage. The Spiegelhuis, with its richly decorated Renaissance facade, also attracts attention. The cozy terraces complete the picture.

Earthen houses (or earth building) are among the oldest and most ecological building methods in the world, using a mixture of clay, sand, water, and organic material (such as straw or hay) to build walls. In the Low Countries, this is historically mainly seen in traditional half-timbered construction. In the Middle Ages and the centuries that followed, houses were built with a wooden frame (half-timbering). The spaces in between were filled with woven branches (often willow twigs), which were then plastered with a thick layer of clay. This was often whitewashed afterwards to protect the clay from the rain.

This Gothic chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. The convent community of the Seven Sorrows in 's-Hertogenbosch grew up around this small church. During the Wars of Religion, the convent was destroyed, and in 1584, the sisters found refuge in the Bethania Convent in Leeuw. The building features a single-nave, a short transept, and a rectangular closed choir. The alternation between sandstone and brick is typical. The nave and the northern transept arm are in the Gothic style, while the southern transept arm is in the Late Gothic style, which is evident in the flamboyant tracery of the window. The sacristy was presumably added in the 18th century. The facade is partially constructed of tufa stone. The Gothic entrance door is decorated with a trefoil arch. Above it stands a sculpted Christ and the year 1559. Inside the chapel, there are also several works of art from the 16th century, such as the piscina niche in the choir, the holy water font, and the crucifix above the altar. This crucifix, made of polychrome wood, depicts the evangelists at the ends of the arms. Furthermore, the chapel possesses the central part of a Baroque confessional and a statue of Our Lady from a Calvary group, both from the 17th century. The main altar dates from ca. 1900. Source: https://www.zoutleeuw.be/kerk-te-bos

On the site of the current St. Leonard's Church stood a chapel—the date of construction of which is unknown—in honor of Saint Leonard of Noblac. After this chapel was elevated to a parish church in 1231, it was replaced by the current church, which had a long construction history: the monumental Gothic building was largely constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries. St. Leonard's Church is rich in art treasures and owes its international fame primarily to them. The Iconoclasm of 1566 and the French Revolution passed the church by without significant damage, thus preserving most of the impressive artistic heritage accumulated over centuries: altarpieces, paintings, statues of saints, copper and silverwork, vestments, and other devout objects. Below, a few of these showpieces are presented. Upon entering, the first thing that catches the eye is the Marianum: this double statue (1533) is situated within the 15th-century veneration of Mary, which depicted the Virgin Mary as the apocalyptic woman and mediatrix of grace. Not-to-be-missed highlight inside: The Sacrament Tower: A tabernacle crafted from white Avesnes stone is undoubtedly the church's showpiece. The artwork was created in the workshops of Cornelis II Floris de Vriendt in Antwerp and erected in Zoutleeuw in 1552. The tower is 18 meters high, has nine stories, and contains approximately 200 statues depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. A replica is on display at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. The Paschal Candlestick This copper candlestick is 5.68 meters high and weighs approximately 950 kg. It was cast by Renier van Thienen, based on a design by Jan Bornam, and installed in the choir by the founder himself in 1483. It is the second-largest Easter candlestick in Europe. Source: https://www.zoutleeuw.be/sint-leonarduskerk

With its small size and rural location in the Hageland region, Zoutleeuw resembles a village, but its architectural heritage testifies to a grand past. Zoutleeuw's Grote Markt (Great Market Square) is a true gem. The Gothic town hall, built between 1530 and 1538, is clearly influenced by the burgeoning Renaissance. The adjacent Cloth Hall still bears witness to Zoutleeuw's prosperity and its important trading position. Come discover Zoutleeuw for yourself.

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Adjacent to the Cloth Hall...