Anyone cycling along Flemish roads or through Flemish towns will notice multiple little chapels, called ‘kapelletjes’ in Dutch.  These roadside chapels are silent witnesses of popular devotion in olden days, mainly to the Virgin Mary. The southern Little Chapels Tour takes you through Rumbeke and Oekene, two towns of Roeselare proper, in search of places of devotion.

This cycle route is linked to the Flanders Cycle Network. Maps can be obtained at the Roeselare Tourist Office:  www.roeselare.be of infocentrum@roeselare.be.

The Lys river starts in France and enters the Scheldt river in the Flemish city of Ghent. The Lys valley is a rich industrial-archaeological area. Flax spinning and weaving were once very important here and the  Lys was so crucial for the region that it was called the ‘Golden River’. Cycle or walk along the river and you will discover old and new architectural pearls, industrial heritage combined with modern art of living.

This circular walking route explores the surroundings of our guest house. It is one of the several signposted rural walks for each of which a leaflet is available. Start your stroll at the picturesque country inn ‘t Roodhuis. There you will find an information sign showing the entire walking route. Main points of interest are chapels, like the Zwarte Kapel or ‘t Chiepens Kruis, or historical farms such as the Dadizeleleengoed or Goed der Duizendzinnen. The latter latter farm, meaning “A thousand senses”, has given the name to the route.

The Kleiputten nature reserve is 20-hectare young forest, built on and round the clay pits of a former brick factory. According to the most recent environmental plans of Flemish Regional Government over a hundred hectares of farm land bordering the present nature reserve will be turned into forest in the coming years. Binoculars are a must if you want to do some bird watching.

The castle goes back to the 13th century but what you can now admire is the remodelled Renaissance version of 1534. During the first World War the Germans used the castle as headquarters.  The Counts de Limburg Stirum inhabited the place until 1988, when it was sold to the Province. During the 18th century renovations the adjacent forest, the Sterrebos or Star Forest, was added and modelled after the Prater park in Vienna.

Rent a bicycle and discover this part of the province of  West-Flanders on your own.

Roeselare is home to the Rodenbach Brewery, the producer of a sour burgundy-coloured beer. The two-hour guided tour around the historical brewery is a real adventure. You will soon discover what makes Rodenbach beer so special. Don’t miss the interactive museum and watch the documentary film about the brewery. And before you leave, taste a free Rodenbach Klassiek and Rodenbach Grand Cru, courtesy of the brewery!