Polders of Kruibeke – Wissekerke Castle loop from Temse
Polders of Kruibeke – Wissekerke Castle loop from Temse
4.4
(8)
104
riders
Polders of Kruibeke – Wissekerke Castle loop from Temse
03:27
58.2km
110m
Cycling
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: April 24, 2026
Tips
Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route
After 25.1 km for 98 m
After 27.4 km for 98 m
Waypoints
Start point
Train Station
Get Directions
7.39 km
Graventoren of Rupelmonde
Highlight • Historical Site
The Graventoren was once owned by the Counts of Flanders. This colossal fortress protected the Scheldt from attackers and conquerors.
Historical context:
Mercator's dungeon
Mercator also plays a leading role in this story. When he shared his revolutionary insights with the world, he was promptly sent to the dungeon by the church authorities. Guess where that dungeon was located? Exactly, in the cellars of the Graventoren. He was locked up here for seven months, accused of heresy.
A bloody history
However, Mercator was not the only one who saw the cellars of the moated castle from the inside. Many dissidents suffered the same fate, and often worse. A stay in the dungeons of the Graventoren often ended with a bloody beheading. The Counts of Flanders may have a legendary status in history, but they were not sweethearts. Count Robrecht van Bethune once even threw his own son in jail here, accused of high treason. A kind of room arrest avant la lettre, you could say.
At the end of the 17th century, the curtain fell for the moated castle. The fortress was then drastically destroyed and the rubble was reused for other buildings. For example, the church of Rupelmonde was built with materials from the ruins of the castle.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
10.9 km
Arcade by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh
Highlight • Monument
Translated by Google •
Tip by
12.2 km
View of the Polder and Scheldt
Highlight • Viewpoint
Tip by
14.9 km
Polders of Kruibeke
Highlight • Natural
When the water recedes here, a world of natural beauty opens up for you. With mudflats and salt marshes, alder forests, thousands of meadow and water birds. You can see deer, beavers and with a bit of luck even otters.
Have you heard of the Sigma Plan? This ingenious plan creates floodplains along the Scheldt to protect inhabited areas from flooding. When the water level of the river rises, the lock gates of the overflow dike open. And that produces beautiful scenes, even with waterfalls that bring enormous amounts of water towards nature reserve. When the water recedes, mudflats and salt marshes remain. Nature thrives here and beautiful landscapes unfold with fertile vegetation and animal inhabitants.
Not to be missed is the beaver trail, which takes you 1.2 kilometers along the Rupelmondse Kreek!
Translated by Google •
Tip by
15.5 km
Bird Reserve Blokkersdijk
Highlight • Natural
Tip by
15.6 km
Kruibeke Polder Nature Reserve
Highlight • Natural
Translated by Google •
Tip by
29.5 km
Beech Avenue to Hof ter Saksen
Highlight • Trail
Translated by Google •
Tip by
47.4 km
Wissekerke Castle
Highlight • Castle
Anyone who takes a look just outside the castle grounds will be impressed by the 600-meter-long castle avenue with monumental beech trees dozens of meters high. A beautiful place to walk, cycle or just take a rest and enjoy the rustling leaves.
(Castles of the Scheldt)
Translated by Google •
Tip by
58.2 km
End point
Train Station
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
24.3 km
17.7 km
13.4 km
1.82 km
880 m
145 m
Surfaces
35.5 km
18.2 km
1.38 km
1.36 km
1.28 km
480 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Today
Wednesday 1 July
23°C
16°C
80 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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