Attractions and Places To See around Incourt - Top 20

The lookout tower is literally a highlight you can't miss. From the top, you'll not only enjoy stunning views but also discover a wealth of stories and knowledge about the Brabantse Wouden.

The Meerdaalwoud is a beautiful rather open forest to walk in. A beautiful piece of nature where you will encounter very few walkers. This route contains many paved parts, but there are also quite a few dirt roads in between. The dirt roads are hard enough. In some places some fine sand, but you can easily walk along Tips for wheelchair users: - Do this walk in a dry period. In rainy seasons you may encounter some muddy spots. - On this route it is best to take someone with you who can push well. There are a few short slopes (of about 100 meters), the dirt roads are not 100% flat everywhere (but doable). I would not start without a helper. - starting point is the entrance gate of Kestrel. There is a spacious toilet there.

The Tomberg is the second highest place in the forest (102 m). It is not a prehistoric burial mound (or tomb) as our ancestors thought, but a natural elevation, a dune mound that millions of years ago, together with the Mommendeel mound, actually protruded above the sea at that time. It is here that the illustrious forest court sat for hundreds of years. In the Middle Ages, every free man was in principle allowed to hunt without restriction in forests, meadows and swamps. The big exception were the free forests, the private forests of the dukes. Meerdaalwoud was such a free forest and hunting rights belonged exclusively to the Duke of Arenberg. At first the forest court was itinerant and justice was administered in the various villages. Later, a special building was erected here on the Tomberg for the court hearings. Later still, a hearing was held at Heverlee castle. The punishments were not lenient, but it is thanks to that forest justice that the forest still exists today and has not been sacrificed to the needs of the farmers and citizens in the area. The forest right came to an end with the arrival of the French in 1795. You can read this - and much more - at https://www.onroerenderfgoed.be/archeologische-fietstocht-heverlee

As befits a good Dijle path, this path is located on the Dijle. It partly runs over the Dijlestraat, which leads to the entrance of the De Doode Bemde nature reserve, through which the Dijle meanders elegantly. There is a warehouse of the Friends of Heverleebos and Meerdaalwoud (with information board about De Doode Bemde) and there was once a water mill and chemical factory. The street departs from the road to Sint-Joris-Weert (Neerijsebaan). There you will also find two bunkers from 1939 and an organic flower garden. If, conversely, you depart from the latter location (for example coming from the Sint-Joris-Weert station), there are several Dijle paths and routes through the nature reserve, with gates and often grazers.

The bench is partly broken, the gazebo is a bit outdated, but it remains wonderful under that tree with a view of heather and ferns. Especially at this time of year, this is a wonderful place for those who love quiet places full of ferns that strive to become the largest and have the most beautiful shades of green. Some of the small paths at the base of the hill are near small stretches of water with life. Those seeking peace and quiet come here outside busier periods to enjoy a jungle of ferns in a wonderful open space. The views from the paths below to the ferns on the hillsides demand beautiful photos.

Ad Wouters is a sculptor and woodcarver who was born in the Netherlands, moved to Haasrode quite young and started doing art after an accident. He made various sculptures in Meerdaalwoud, Heverleebos and a few other places in Leuven. He uses dead oak trees for his wood carvings. There is also a fairly well-known path from Ad that starts in the arboretum of Heverlee: https://www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/producten/wandelen/het-pad-van-ad/ Here, at the walking area at and behind De Torenvalk, you can see several of Ad's wood carvings.

The tower is approximately eighteen meters high and has been there since 2019. It is more than a lookout tower. On every floor there are information boards about all kinds of themes related to the environment and the fauna and flora. Those who hate information and all kinds of signs can also get started with, for example, recognizing the sounds of birds of prey. The heritage and history of the region are also discussed, as are the organizations that take care of the nature of Meerdaalwoud, Heverleebos and the entire national park that recently emerged around the Brabant forests (there is a large map). At the very top there are beautiful panels at the edge that tell you something about what you can see (or cannot see but is or was). Fact: the tower was built with wood from the surrounding forests themselves.

From Mollendaal up a treacherous cobblestone road that hurts the calves, but with a concrete gutter next to it. Continues to climb imperceptibly but steeply.