The best dog-friendly hikes and walks in Grandvalbos En Kooigembos

A green oasis just outside Kortrijk where there is more to see than this.

Morning freshness but calm peaceful only birdsong

Along the walking path that leads from Rollegemknokstraat to Munkendoornstraat, this small white chapel stands gleaming. ...and that is thanks to the efforts of a number of local residents who joined forces in 2020 to renovate this then completely dilapidated chapel. The beautiful location, flanked by tall trees, certainly also contributes to the appeal of this modest gem.

Mouscron celebrates its liberation every first Saturday in September, as stated on the information board on site. This liberation monument honors seven resistance heroes who lost their lives here during the liberation night of September 1-2, 1944.

Passage under the railway, for pedestrians and cyclists only. Note: above the arch, the year 1920 is indicated on one side of the tunnel; on the other side, 1919.

The colorful doll opposite the church in Rollegem is titled "I Lead the Way" and is by artist Analucia Moreno Concha (born 1990, Monterrey, Mexico). In early 2023, Kiwanis Kortrijk celebrated its 50th anniversary with an open-air exhibition of large K-dolls. For the occasion, five Kortrijk artists (Rik Vermeersch, Analucia Moreno Concha, Mónica Villarroel Celsi, Joke Demeyere, and Mieke Gydé) were invited to paint several large dolls in their signature style. Kiwanis is known, among other things, for its therapeutic Kiwanis dolls for children, which it has donated to pediatric wards of hospitals for many years. These cloth dolls are not used as cuddly toys, but rather to explain the procedure to children in a child-friendly and alternative way. Kiwanis raises money through the sale of the dolls to support other children's projects. The city of Kortrijk purchased the K-doll painted by Analucia Moreno Concha in 2023 and installed it here in Rollegem. The young Kortrijk artist with Mexican roots is part of the Magnolia Collective, a multicultural and international group of fourteen creative women from various disciplines in Kortrijk. Analucia Moreno Concha is a Mexican Kortrijk native from Monterrey who came to Kortrijk through her husband, whom she met on Erasmus in Austria. She works as a graphic designer under the name a.mor and studied painting at the Kortrijk Academy. As a Mexican artist, she has always been proud of the traditions and vibrant colors of her culture. Inspired by Otomi embroidery, she wanted to tell a story and motivate people to listen to their inner voice. The bright colors she uses in her work "I Lead the Way" represent celebration and joy, and the image of the birds in a golden cage is used to express the sense of escape and freedom. The flowers represent self-growth and personal flourishing. Source: kortrijk.be

Eclectic building from 1903, known as "'T OUD GEMEENTEHUIS" (The Old Town Hall). In 1779, it housed the Schepenhuys (Aldermen's House). Until 1964, it housed the municipal administrative offices and police station; it now serves as an inn. Eclectic corner building resembling the Neo-Flemish Renaissance style, with its stepped gables on the left side and dormer windows crowned with iron finials. The red brick structure is embellished with bluestone and cemented bands. The window frames remain, including sash windows on the ground floor and T-frame windows for the upper windows. The left-hand extension has disappeared.

The church in Rollegem, dedicated to Saint Anthony Abbot (also known as Anthony of Egypt), was built in 1903 on the foundations of the old church dating from 1786-1788. However, the church's history dates back to around 1100, and the first church was built on its current site in the early 13th century. Anthony of Egypt lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries. He is known as the father of monasticism, hence the name "Saint Anthony Abbot."