The best city hikes and walks around Schulensmeer

The stairs to the Citadel of Diest connect the city center with the historic and renovated citadel domain on the Allerheiligenberg. These stairs are part of the site's redevelopment and offer hikers a smooth and direct climb to the top. At the top of the stairs, you have this beautiful view over the city.

The newly reopened "Oude Demer" was actually the original Demer river. During the construction of the ramparts, the Demer was partially diverted to flood the deep defensive moats. A complex system of sluices and control structures (Grote Steunbeer/Saspoort) was built for this purpose, but the Demer still flowed through the city. However, when water pollution became severe in 1960, causing a significant stench in the city, the Demer was completely diverted and filled in within the city. 14 years ago, it was decided to reopen the historical main bed of the Demer.

The Church of Our Lady of Diest is located on the corner of Bruidstraat and Begijnestraat in the center of Diest. The sober church is mainly made of iron sandstone in a Gothic style typical of the region. It is therefore an important example of early Demer Gothic. In 1211, a chapel stood on this site, serving as the castle chapel for the Lords of Diest. They resided in a castle on the Warande. The Church of Our Lady was built between 1253 and 1288, in an early Gothic style. Beggars destroyed the church and stole all the metal when the church wardens did not comply with their financial demands. The church lost the storeys of its tower when it collapsed in 1612. In 1777, it received a new bluestone portal in Baroque style. The bluestone rose window in the west facade is striking. During the night of July 2-3, 1830, the vaults of the choir collapsed. It was considered not to repair the church anymore due to the high repair costs. At the end of the 19th century, the church was renovated, and the addition of a 65 m high tower was considered. This did not happen. Source: https://www.diest-online.be/onze-lieve-vrouwekerk/

Park Cerckel is over 800 years old and therefore has a considerable aura. It is wonderful to enjoy nature and the ancient trees. The story of Park Cerckel begins in 1228, when the order of the Friars Minor, one of the oldest monastic communities in Diest, settled on the banks of the Demer. They built a beautiful monastery there. But a large part of the city of Diest was destroyed in 1580 by the armies of William of Orange, and thus also the monastery of the Friars Minor. The troops also looted the tomb of Anne of Lorraine (wife of René of Chalon) at that time. She was later reburied in the Sint-Sulpitiuskerk. In 1583 they returned to Diest and began the reconstruction. But when centuries later the French took over, the monastery was sold publicly, which also meant the end of the Friars Minor of Diest. Only the infirmary and the round arch gate were preserved. When the brewing industry in Diest experienced strong growth in the 19th century, half of the monastery domain was bought up by the Cerckel brewing family. They turned it into a beautiful pleasure garden. Where there were once vegetable gardens, a pond and a bridge were created. The former monastery infirmary was converted into a garden pavilion with an orangery extending from it. When the Cerckel brewery disappeared, the beautiful garden also fell into disrepair. For many years the park was an impenetrable jungle that no one really benefited from. In 1990 the park was bought by the City of Diest. But it took a very long time until the people of Diest could finally enjoy this beautiful park, as it was not until April 2011 that the park was made accessible to the public again. Of course, after a thorough renovation. Source: https://www.staddiest.be/park-cerckel.html

In the 16th century, the settlement was concentrated exclusively on the left bank of the Demer, giving the old Diest the shape of a crescent moon, naturally bounded by the Demer. Today, the entire Demer route has been reopened by a walking and cycling path. In some places, like here, the VMM has created a boardwalk, right next to or above the water. The watercourse acts as a connecting element between the fortification structure upstream and the Demer valley downstream of the city, connecting the different parks with each other.

The Sint-Catharinakerk in local iron sandstone is a typical, sober beguinage church from the fourteenth century. The beguines invoked the help of Catherine, one of their most popular saints, for fire and skin ailments. The church was recently restored and whitewashed on the outside. The interior is full of baroque and rococo.

The Hof van Nassau is located along the Graanmarkt and Henri-Verstappenplein, near the monumental entrance gate to the Warande. The relatively sober buildings were the 16th-century residence of the Princes of Orange in Diest. The Hof van Nassau was built around 1510 on behalf of Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda, then Lord of Diest. His wife, Claudia of Chalon, is said to have died in the octagonal tower. Her heart and intestines were buried in the Sint-Janskerk and her body was embalmed and transferred to Breda. Philip William of Orange also liked to stay at the Hof van Nassau. He received important guests there, such as Archdukes Albert and Isabella. Source: https://www.diest-online.be/hof-van-nassau/

The Schaffense Poort (or Schaffensepoort) is one of the oldest city gates of Diest. The gate was already part of the medieval city walls. During the construction of the 19th-century fortifications of Diest (defensive belt around Diest), the Schaffense Poort was rebuilt between 1837 and 1844. The gate was built around 1840 by Louis Beeckman. In 1951, there were plans to demolish this gate after German troops had seriously damaged it during the war. This did not happen due to opposition from the Royal Commission for Monuments and Landscapes. Since 1996, the gate (as part of the fortifications) has been protected as a monument.