Ooidonkdreef 3, 9800 Bachte-Maria-Leerne
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Display public transport on mapThe magnificent Renaissance Ooidonk castle inspired the name of this hiking route, but it is by no means the only highlight. On the Maaigemdijk, for example, you'll be walking along the banks of the Old Lys via a dirt road!
Start in the idyllic village of Bachte-Maria-Leerne. Here, it seems as though time has stood still.
On Ooidonkdreef, a beautiful castle avenue with gnarled lime trees, you'll walk under the Blue Gate. The shutters used to be painted blue; now, they look red and white. It is the only one of the seven castle gates still standing today.
The Renaissance Ooidonk Castle, one of the jewels of the region, exudes pure class with its impressive towers and stepped gables. It is privately owned and cannot always be visited – check dates and times on the website! – but the beautifully maintained gardens are open to the public every day (except on Mondays and Tuesday mornings).
Next to the castle's entrance gate, the former coach house now houses the eatery Het Koetshuis. On the menu: hot and cold drinks, sweets, snacks and classic dishes. Open Friday through Tuesday from 10.30am.
Astene Sas is a picture: a historical drawbridge over the Lys that is still manually operated, along with a well-preserved lock.
At 't Oud Sashuis, a ship's café with a little museum, quench your thirst with a Schobiak beer and satisfy your hunger with a house dish that's not to be sneezed at. The owner / lock manager Wim and house parrot Boris will provide the ambiance. Wonderful café by the water!
Just off the trail, you will find Vosselare Put, in summer the place to be for swimmers and sunbathers. In winter, those known as the 'polar bears' like to take a refreshing dip there.
A little further on, you come to an idyllic spot: the Maaigemdijk, a 1.3 km dirt road with a tall line of trees along the banks of the Old Lys. Some people call this the most idyllic spot in Deinze.