The best traffic-free bike rides around Hoeselt

This transparent church, aptly named 'Reading Between the Lines', is a work of art by PIT, designed by the architectural duo Gijs Van Vaerenbergh. It symbolizes the decay of the church. The ten-meter-high artwork consists of one hundred stacked layers of sheet steel in the shape of a church in Loon. Thanks to the unique construction, the beautiful Haspengouw landscape remains visible through the church. In 2012, this transparent church received the 'Building of the Year' award from the renowned website ArchDaily. It was the first time a Belgian project received this honor. Enjoy the view; this is a place with one of the most breathtaking panoramas.

The ideal starting point to explore Borgloon. The location is now a fruit experience center with a focus on syrup distillation. There is a shop with regional products and a bistro serving regional dishes.

Tongeren is the oldest city in Belgium. The city originates from a camp founded by Sabinus and Cotta, lieutenants of Julius Caesar, whose legions were massacred in 54 BC near Ambiorix, the leader of the Eburones. Sights include the basilica, the beguinage, the statue of Ambiorix, and the antique market that takes place every Sunday.

Let yourself be touched by the inspiring sculpture, the understated poetry, and the subtle symbolism, which blend beautifully with the tranquility of nature. A place to pause, feel, and come to yourself. You are most welcome.

Hollow roads are not only important for nature, they also play a valuable role in agriculture and in our free time. Together with other slow roads, they form the perfect routes for hikers, riders, and cyclists to fully enjoy the landscape.

The story of Alden Biesen does not begin in Limburg, but at the scorching gates of besieged Acre. In 1190, German merchants built a field hospital there with the sails of their ships, intended for sick pilgrims and wounded crusaders. What began as an act of care and solidarity grew into the establishment of the Teutonic Order; a spiritual order of knights that was soon recognized by the Pope and the Emperor. In our region too, the Teutonic Order left its mark. In the thirteenth century, an impressive commandery was established in Rijkhoven near Bilzen: Alden Biesen, the headquarters of the bailiwick of Biesen, which managed dozens of properties in the region. For centuries, this domain was a center of power, wealth, and religious influence. But at the end of the eighteenth century, disaster struck. During the French Revolution, the property of the Teutonic Order was confiscated. In 1797, Guillaume Claes, the mayor of Hasselt, bought the domain and saved it from demolition. Nevertheless, it fell into disrepair, and in 1971, a severe fire destroyed almost the entire castle. Only the walls remained standing. Fortunately, the Flemish government intervened, and a thorough restoration followed. Today, Alden Biesen is once again a vibrant heritage site where you can relive the past in the castle, the garden, and the museum. Want to know more? Click through to https://www.alden-biesen.be/geschiedenis

The Castle of Rooi is situated just outside the hamlet of Mulken in the territory of Neerrepen. The castle is a castle farm and consists of a U-shaped main building surrounded by a pond and a square farmstead. The place name Rooi was first mentioned in 1287. In the 14th century, the castle was owned by Libert Butoir, hereditary guardian of Horion.

A Landkommande (command post) was a regional administrative and economic unit of a religious military order, primarily the Teutonic Knights. It served as: • an administrative center for the surrounding holdings (farms, villages, lands), • an economic base for financing military and charitable activities, • the residence of the Landkomtur (commander), who held regional leadership. Chronological development: c. 1220 --> Establishment of the settlement by the Teutonic Knights --> Beginning as a regional administrative and economic unit 13th–14th centuries --> Expansion into the central Landkommande of the Bailiwick of Biesen --> Establishment as an important administrative center in the area of what is now the southern Netherlands 15th century --> Consolidation of the Order's rule; Economic stabilization --> Securing income from agriculture and taxes 16th century --> Effects of the Reformation and religious conflicts --> Political and religious tensions, but the commandery continued to exist 17th century --> Baroque expansion into a representative castle complex --> Transformation from a fortified complex to a prestigious residence 18th century --> Golden age as the seat of the Bailiwick of Biesen --> Administrative center with cultural significance 1794–1795 --> French revolutionary troops occupy the region --> Expropriation of the Order's property, end of the Order's rule 19th century --> Private use and structural alterations --> Loss of the original administrative function 1971 --> Major fire destroys large parts of the complex --> Severe structural damage From the 1970s onwards --> Restoration by the Belgian heritage authorities --> Re-establishment as a historical cultural monument Today --> Cultural and event center used for exhibitions, conferences, concerts, and tourism