Bike tour in Flanders

Diverse and gracious – that’s how Brussels presents itself. Its European Quarter is well known through the news, but the Belgian capital has a lot more to offer. Monumental palaces, long boulevards, majestic churches and elaborate Art Nouveau quarters mean Brussels is an appealing travel destination. Some great attractions in the historic centre are the Manneken Pis, Grand Place with its Gothic town hall and the Belgian Comic Museum.

The first day on the saddle will initially lead you to Leuven, where Belgium’s oldest university is situated. Its extraordinary town hall on the Grote Markt is regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings of the late Gothic period. Following the Dijle downstream, you will reach today’s final destination, Mechelen. In its centre, you will find hundreds of protected buildings. The cathedral, with its incomplete church tower, offers an unusual sight.

The second stage of your bike tour in Flanders first takes you to the small town of Lier. Pay a visit to the Begijnhof and the town hall with its striking bell tower before cycling towards your destination for the day, Antwerp. The port city on the Scheldt was once the most important trading metropolis in Europe. Today, it offers its visitors a wealth of architectural and artistic monuments dating back to the city's heyday – all of which are well worth seeing! Internationally, Antwerp is known as an important center for the trade of diamonds.

Before heading to your next destination today, another discovery tour through Antwerp is worthwhile. Take a stroll through the Grote Markt, which owes its current appearance to the construction of magnificent buildings by wealthy merchants in the Middle Ages, or pay a visit to the Rubens House, which is dedicated to the world-famous painter Peter Paul Rubens. The route continues along the Scheldt to Dendermonde. The town's symbol is the Ross Bayard. Every 10 years, the legend of the horse with magical powers is commemorated at a big festival.

You cycle along the Scheldt on the bike tour in Flanders to your destination for the day, Ghent. Since the Middle Ages, the city skyline has been characterized by three towers close together. Another eye-catcher is Gravensteen Castle. It is one of the largest moated castles in Europe. Many other buildings from the Middle Ages have been preserved in the historic city center, including St. Bavo's Cathedral with the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece. In the evening, sample the traditional Flemish cuisine and enjoy a full-bodied Ghent triple.

Today you cycle through the beautiful landscape around the river Leie, which has inspired many painters to create their works, to Kortrijk – from East to West Flanders. Kortrijk combines the flair of a big city with the tranquillity of a small town. Numerous sights are waiting to be discovered by you. Secular and religious buildings, modern architecture and a centuries-old cultural heritage characterize the cityscape. Get to know Kortrijk from a different perspective on a boat tour on the Leie.

The last stage of your bike tour in Flanders takes you to Bruges, which welcomes you with an old town surrounded by canals and ramparts. The medieval city center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for many years. And rightly so, as every corner is a reminder of Bruges' heyday in the Middle Ages. Explore the city from one of the open boats that sail along the canals or simply on foot. The Gothic town hall, the Church of Our Lady with Michelangelo's Madonna of Bruges and the city gates will catch your eye, as will the Grote Markt and the beautiful alleyways.

Your bike tour in Flanders ends after breakfast. We are happy to extend your stay in Brussels or Bruges with an extra night. With an extra night in Bruges, you have the option of taking a round trip to the nearby North Sea with the destination De Haan.