The best traffic-free bike rides around Alveringem

Next to this church, there is also a small parking lot, so you can easily start your tour from here in all directions.

The harbor in Ypres, known locally as "De Kaaie," is actually the Ieperlee, which runs beneath the city of Ypres and becomes visible again there. At the Drie Grachten (Three Canals), the Ieperlee is joined by the Martjevaart canal, which originates in Merkem. Drie Grachten is a hamlet in the west of Merkem where the three canals converge: the Martjevaart canal, the Ypres-IJzer canal (also known as the Ieperlee Canal), and the Ieperlee itself. Drie Grachten is also known for the battles during World War I, in which the French, including the Zouaves, fought against the Germans. After a failed attack on the German outpost at Luigem, the Germans captured a number of Zouaves. They launched a counterattack but hid behind the captured Zouaves to prevent the French Zouaves from firing on them, thinking they were their own men returning. At one point, one of the captured Zouaves reportedly shouted: "Tirez donc au nom de Dieu, ce sont les Boches!" (For God's sake, these are the Boches!). Immediately after the warning, a French salvo erupted, mowing down both the Germans and the captured Zouaves. The Zouaves of Northern France (Union des Zouaves du Nord) continued to commemorate this after the war. Luigem is a hamlet 1 kilometer east of Drie Grachten and 1 kilometer west of the center of Noordschote. The Zouaves (French: zouaves) were a light infantry unit of the French Army, associated with French North Africa.

The castle isn't open to the public except for specific events, so check the calendar. It's located just across from Beauvoorde's beautiful church and cemetery. A little further down the street, you'll also find the old pancake bakery and pancake house. You used to be able to visit both, but now there's a vending machine selling the famous Beauvoorde pancakes.

The oldest part, the Gothic chancel, dates from the 13th century. The church is mentioned as early as 1119; it was subsequently rebuilt several times. Between 1435 and 1496, the aisles and the south transept were further extended. The late-Gothic hall church was formerly part of the Augustinian Abbey of St. Peter. The monks used the section of the church between the transept and the chancel, which featured wooden choir stalls dating from 1624. The north aisle served as the abbot's chapel. The abbey was founded in 1093 and was abandoned in 1797 as a result of the French Revolution. Looting in 1478 and a fire in 1580 necessitated reconstruction, which was carried out in the same style. In 1847, the abbey room separating the parish church from the abbot's chapel was demolished. A neo-Gothic tower replaced the old Romanesque crossing tower (1866-1869). During the First World War, the tower was blown up, and of the church itself, only the rising walls remained. Many of the building's art treasures had been rescued in time and were preserved. After the war, the church was rebuilt according to the original plans. The destroyed 19th-century tower was replaced by a slightly lower one. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Pieterskerk_(Lo)

The Caesarsboom is an old yew tree (also known as poison tree) in the town of Lo in the Belgian Westhoek region. The tree is one of Lo's typical symbols and is located next to the medieval Westpoort gate. The name refers to a legend about Julius Caesar, who is said to have taken a nap under the tree in 55 BC on his way to Britain and tied his horse to it. The story goes back to the historian Jean-Baptiste Gramaye, who was the first to allow Caesar to pass through Lo in 1612. In reality, the Caesarsboom is approximately 250 years old. A painting from the late 18th century depicts its predecessor in full maturity. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesarsboom

The mill was built in 1797. The base of the mill was closed off in 1927, creating a sixteen-sided brick building with entrance doors. The last miller was Joseph Markey, to whom the mill owes its current name. He ceased milling in 1962. The mill gradually fell into disrepair. As early as 1949, the mill was designated a protected monument. In 1980, it was purchased by the province of West Flanders, which carried out restoration work so that the mill was operational again in 2003. The mill has three lofts, three pairs of millstones, and a building structure. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markeymolen

Do you have binoculars? Take your time and look for the bluethroat, or scan the sky for the kestrels...

ON 23 JULY 1827, THE FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID BY THE HIGHLY HONOURABLE COUNT FERDINAND DEBAILLET, GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF WEST FLANDERS, CHAMBERL OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE NETHERLANDS, WILLIAM THE FIRST.