Protected landscapes, walking and cycling routes, and cultural themes ranging from forest history to architecture define Oud-Heverlee. The routes range from a path just under 2 km long to a 32 km cycling loop. There are also wooden sculptures, historic sites in the forest and a chapel. This gives you a way to choose what to focus on: nature, exercise or culture.
Ponds, forest and nature conservation
Het Zoet Water is a protected landscape with a group of five ponds. The site has been a destination for Sunday walks since the 17th century; since 1930, Het Zoet Water has also been developed as a destination for day-trippers. This means the tradition of walking and its later development as a day-trip destination belong to different historical periods.
Together, the Meerdaalwoud and Heverleebos form a forest complex of around 2,000 hectares. This area figure refers to both forests combined. Doode Bemde is a nature reserve covering more than 280 hectares—a different area figure for a different natural area.
Walking and cycling routes
Two walking loops with a combined total length of 8 km run through Doode Bemde. Walkers and cyclists have free access there, provided they stay on the paths. The 8 km refers to both loops combined, not to each one individually.
The Multimovepad is just under 2 km long and is open free of charge between sunrise and sunset. Compared with the two walking loops, it is the shorter route and has its own daily access hours.
The Meerdaalroute is a 32 km cycling loop through Heverleebos and Meerdaalwoud. It is therefore the longest of the routes mentioned and the longer cycling option; the shorter distances refer to walking routes. The length and type of activity give you a concrete basis for comparing the different kinds of outings.
At Onthaalpoort De Torenvalk, there is a new walking trail for wheelchair users, making the forest more accessible. The Onthaalpoort also has a wooden observation and reception tower overlooking the green surroundings. The trail and tower offer different highlights: improved access to the forest and views of the surrounding greenery.
Sculptures, forest history and architecture
Het Pad van Ad brings nature and culture together. The wooden sculptures along this path were created by Ad Wouters from the trunks of dead oak trees. The artist’s name, the material and the connection between nature and culture give this path a distinct artistic character.
With the “MIRADAL” brochure and its accompanying map, walkers can discover more than 30 historically interpreted sites in the forest. Together with the sculptures on Het Pad van Ad, this highlights the difference between artworks along a path and historically interpreted sites in the forest.
The Kapel Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Steenbergen is a single-nave chapel with three bays. “Single-nave” refers to a main interior space; the three bays divide the chapel into structural sections. These two specific features help you understand its architecture.
Viticulture is also a local theme: Wijndomein Chardonnay Meerdael now has 60,000 grapevines. This figure gives viticulture a concrete scale alongside the landscape, forest and architecture.
If you are looking for a hotel in Oud-Heverlee, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your outing: the landscape and walks, a longer cycling loop or cultural history. Het Zoet Water combines ponds with a historic tradition of walking, the Meerdaalroute offers a cycling route with a specified distance, and the cultural sites range from wooden sculptures to the chapel. This makes it easier to see whether this mix suits your travel interests.
Discover more destinations: Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, Lubbeek, Linden, Landen, Overijse, Wavre, Bekkevoort, Huldenberg
For the broader travel overview: Brabant.
