The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Tongeren

On the border of the poor Kempen and the fertile Haspengouw lies the Munsterbos. Northeast of the village center of Munsterbilzen, 450 hectares of forests, ponds, marshes, and grasslands stretch out. Here and there, even a patch of purple heather peeks through. The area is so special due to its location on the transition from the sandy Kempen Plateau to the loess region of Haspengouw.

The chapel of the Secret Army in the Munsterbos forest commemorates the former hiding place and execution site of members of the resistance movement. This location along the Weerstandspad (Resistance Path) was the shelter of approximately 800 resistance fighters from the Bilzen - Genk – Kortessem region. Three of these resistance fighters from Bilzen were executed here in the vicinity on September 5 and 7, 1944, just a few days before the liberation. The annual commemoration takes place every second Sunday of September.

The Bilzermolen is a grist watermill with an undershot wheel on the Demer, at Kattebroekstraat 11, on the eastern side of Haffmans Park or Demer Park, owned by the city of Bilzen. This watermill already existed in the 13th century (first mention: 1301) and was rebuilt several times. It was one of the four Bilzen compulsory or ban mills from the Ancien Régime. It was operated by private individuals who paid an annual rent to the Princely Episcopal Audit Office. It was also mentioned in 1569 as Bouchoutmolen. After 1600, the following miller families worked here: Castermans, Maurissen, Martens and Withofs. The building was considerably damaged in 1893, but was soon repaired. The watermill remained in professional operation until around the Second World War. Above the water wheel, the facade still has a wooden cladding. The mill is equipped with a metal undershot wheel and is still capable of grinding. The mill house has been restored. The last professional miller was Gaston Goffin (°Rijkhoven 1921 - +Hasselt 2010), married to Maria Jans. In the end, he only let the mill run for visitors. After the floods of 1998, the embankments on the mill side were heavily damaged. In 2001, a bypass with a fish ladder was built around the mill. This bypass primarily serves to prevent flooding in case of blockages of the mill sluice. In this bypass, about eight pool steps between 10 and 15 cm high were built.

Groenendaal Castle is a historic country house and heritage site in Waltwilder (municipality of Bilzen-Hoeselt), Limburg, Belgium. It is part of a protected cultural-historical landscape and a striking example of classical residential heritage in the Flemish landscape. The castle has a long history and was built on a site originally known as Croenendael or Croonendael, a name later incorrectly spelled Groenendaal. The estate's origins date back to the 17th century, and in the Middle Ages it was part of a large fief of the Lords of Jonckholt. The current building is U-shaped and partially moated, with the oldest core dating from the mid-17th century. Later, in 1761, the classical main building was renovated and given its current classical form, with features of the Meuse style (typical of Limburg castles) visible in the facade ornaments, wall anchors, and brickwork details. In addition to the castle, the estate also includes a castle farm from the same period, originally a farmhouse and service building that was later adapted and expanded. Both the castle and the farm are situated in a landscaped setting with ponds and parks that together contribute to the estate's heritage value. The estate now called Groenendaal was originally known as Croenendael and belonged to noble family lines that governed the region for centuries. Around 1757, the property became the property of the de Grady family, who extensively modified the old 17th-century castle to its classicist form. Later owners, such as Baron Emile de Rosen de Borgharen in the 19th century, contributed to the maintenance and management of the estate. Although the interior is generally privately owned and not open to the public, the building's exterior remains well-preserved and recognizable as a representative example of 18th-century country house architecture in Limburg. Groenendaal Castle is situated in a peaceful rural setting of meadows and water features, between cycling junctions, making it an attractive stop for cyclists and hikers in the region. Its location between cycling junctions 67 and 504 makes it an ideal spot for a picnic or a short break, and there are hiking trails and cycling routes leading to the castle from the surrounding area. Although the castle's interior isn't normally accessible, the exterior offers a beautiful example of Limburg's classical heritage and makes an interesting stop on a tour through the countryside and countryside around Bilzen and Hoeselt.

Groenendaal Castle is a beautiful historic estate in Bilzen (Limburg, Belgium), situated in a green setting that is part of the region's rich heritage. Surrounded by expansive gardens, park areas, and water features, the castle is not only an architectural highlight but also an oasis of peace and nature. The original castle dates back to the 17th century, although the site was likely inhabited even earlier. Over the centuries, it underwent various renovations and expansions, resulting in a castle that today displays a blend of classical architecture and rural features. The façades, turrets, and surrounding outbuildings provide a good impression of how a Limburg country house historically developed within the countryside. The grounds of Groenendaal Castle include expansive gardens and park areas with avenues of mature trees and walking paths that form part of the region's public hiking trails. Visitors can not only admire the castle but also stroll through the park, experience nature, and enjoy the tranquil landscape. Some paths lead past ponds and historic hedgerows, creating an idyllic and romantic atmosphere. Groenendaal Castle is often included in educational and cultural walks because it illustrates both the architectural and landscape history of Bilzen. The castle and its surrounding park are an excellent example of how historic estates functioned as residential, working, and social centers for their owners and the surrounding village. Today, Groenendaal Castle is a landmark that combines tranquility, culture, and nature. The castle is surrounded by hiking and cycling trails, making it a popular day trip destination for families and nature lovers.

"Door de Boerderij" is a hiking highlight and part of several walking routes in and around Bilzen (Limburg, Belgium). As part of the hiking and nature network, it literally forms a stretch of path that takes you through agricultural land or past old farmsteads and farmhouses, a place where the agricultural character of the region becomes tangible during your walk. In the region around Bilzen and Hoeselt, routes meander through a landscape where agriculture and nature go hand in hand. The Haspengouw landscape, with its fertile fields, orchards, meadows, and murmuring stream valleys, has been historically shaped by farmers and agriculturalists who have cultivated these lands for centuries. During walks, you will regularly encounter paths that literally run through the farm or past farmyards, often on country roads or between fields and stables. The "Door de Boerderij" hiking highlight is used on platforms like Komoot to mark where you literally walk through a farmland landscape during a route. Sometimes the path runs between agricultural plots and farms, other times through a farmyard or between a stable and a field, allowing you to experience and understand daily farming practices within the context of the walk. These passages give hikers direct contact with the agricultural life of the region: you see how the land and farm are part of the landscape you explore. You can smell the scents of freshly mown grass or soil, and sometimes hear the sounds of animals or machinery in the yard. This makes the "Through the Farm" section a special element: it literally and figuratively transports you into the farming landscape that defines so much of the local history, culture, and economy. On hiking trails around Bilzen, the "Through the Farm" often connects with other attractions such as parks, stream valleys, historic buildings, and windmills, making the path not only a practical connecting route but also an experience within the walk. In short: the "Through the Farm" is not an attribute in itself but an enjoyable stage in the national hiking network around Bilzen. It shows how hiking trails through agricultural areas are interwoven with nature and culture, and a slice of rural life that you can literally experience along the way.

The Bilzermolen, also known as the Bilsermolen or historically as the Bouchoutmolen, is a historic watermill on the Demer River in Bilzen-Hoeselt (Limburg, Belgium). This mill is part of the city's heritage and is protected as a monument and part of a protected village view, along with the landscape surrounding Park Haffmans. The history of the Bilzermolen dates back to at least the 13th century. In old documents, the mill is specifically mentioned in 1569, demonstrating its centuries-long role in the region's agricultural and economic life. The mill was known as the official ban mill of Bilzen, a grain mill authorized by the Prince-Bishop, where residents traditionally had their grain ground. The mill complex combines the mill house and residence in one building and is located at Kattebroekstraat 11 on the Demer River. The mill is an undershot mill, and the waterwheel is powered by the Demer River flowing beneath it. The current building bears traces of construction activities from both the 16th and 19th centuries, reflected in the architectural style and structure of the complex. In 1893, the mill suffered serious damage but was subsequently repaired. The mill remained in operation until around the Second World War, after which its operation gradually ceased. In the early 21st century, further restorations were carried out, including on the water wheel and internal workings, and a bypass with a fish ladder was constructed to allow fish to pass through the Demer River and spawn upstream. The Bilzermolen is situated in a green setting near Haffmans Park and De Katteberg, making it an attractive walking and heritage attraction for visitors who want to combine nature and history during their visit to Bilzen. The fish ladder and the bypass also demonstrate how historical heritage and ecology can go hand in hand today in the management of a river landscape. In short, the Bilzermolen is not only an industrial-archaeological monument but also a peaceful, picturesque spot where you can experience the long history of watermills in Limburg and where you can stop for a walk along the Demer River or in the surrounding park.

The Munsterbos Bridge is situated in a place where infrastructure almost automatically blends in with the landscape. It forms the transition between the open area around Munsterbilzen and the dense greenery of the Munsterbos, a bridge that not only leads you over a watercourse or passageway but also from one landscape into another. As soon as you cross, the atmosphere changes noticeably: the open view gives way to shade, trees join together, and the forest takes over the rhythm. The bridge fits into a larger context of slow roads, stream valleys, and forest edges. Below and around it, the water flows peacefully, lined with reeds, shrubs, and trees that reach an almost jungle-like density in summer. It's a place where you slow down for a moment, where walkers and cyclists naturally adjust their pace, and the sound of traffic fades into leaves and birdsong. What makes the Munsterbos Bridge special is that it's not an end point, but an invitation. It marks the beginning of the forest, with its longer paths and quiet natural areas, thus connecting the village, abbey landscape, and wilder greenery. A simple crossing but with the feeling of a clear threshold: here you leave the open country behind you and enter the forest.