The best walks and hikes around Geetbets

At the public sale in 1798, Ter Lenen came into the hands of the Coenen family from Zoutleeuw, who remained the owner continuously until 1963. The Primitive Cadastral Map, drawn by surveyor Denis in 1827, shows a completely changed picture compared to the Ferraris Map. The farm complex has been reduced to two wings, and in place of the southeastern part of the partially filled moat is a new, almost square volume, identifiable as the current small castle. Nothing remains of the ring moat on the Ferraris Map. The small castle faces a jagged, elongated pond in the northwest direction, originally perhaps a brick clay pit, but a "pleasure pond" of 34.5 acres according to the Primitive Cadastre, which suggests the existence of an early landscape garden, a 'jardin anglais'. Between 1800 and 1820 (with a focus around 1810), numerous gardens and parks in the region – mostly limited in surface area and formal, regular, geometric, 'French' or whatever they were called – were given a new, 'irregular' look. The undulating contours of the water features, widenings, swellings, and sudden constrictions – often these are dammed and widened streams and canals, sometimes excavation pits – are typical of this early romantic or early landscape design. The "pleasure pond" was, strangely enough, surrounded by utilitarian plots in 1827 according to the cadastral register: orchard, meadow, garden-without-more, and even ordinary arable land around the small castle. The 320 m long and 15 m wide strip plot was an avenue that opened from the southeast near the farm buildings. It connected Ter Lenen via the Oppenstraat with the village center of Rummen and formed the main access. The current access road from the southwest, marked on the Verdaelstraat by a gate with two pillars of red and sintered brick and a flanking fence, was built around 1880 (the initials 'VC' incorporated in the ironwork stand for the then owner Victor Coenen), but the monumental, blue stone round arch gate with grooved frame testifies to the original importance of the northeastern access, although this gate is part of a stable wing built around 1897. Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed: Garden of the Ter Lenen country house, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/134181

The Ter Lenen estate is located on the right bank of the Melsterbeek, in the middle of meadow and pastureland. Until the French Revolution, the Ter Lenen farm was part of the extensive possessions of the Cistercian abbey of Oriënte, located slightly further south, which had bought the "curia de Leenen" in 1240, together with 52.5 bunders or more than 60 ha of arable land and pasture, from a certain Rolin de Lare. In the 14th century, Ter Lenen was an important exploitation, as the farm included two barns, two sheepfolds and a horse stable. On the Ferraris map, the "cense Ter Lenen" is depicted as a complex of detached buildings on a moated, rectangular 'island'. A vegetable garden occupied most of the northern half of this island. Meadows, high-stem orchards and arable land formed the wider setting. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Garden of the Ter Lenen country house, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/134181

Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fever. Rectangular brick chapel under a slate gable roof from the 19th century, shaded by several lime trees. Source: Heritage Inventory

Schelfheidewinning is a closed farmstead with an 18th-century core, though significantly modified in the 19th century. Schelfheide used to be an independent manor, which, from 1540 onwards, together with Gorsem, became part of the County of Duras. In 1795, Schelfhout was incorporated into the newly formed municipality of Gorsem. However, it was an exclave, separated from Gorsem's territory by, among other things, Metsteren. Therefore, this exclave was incorporated into the municipality of Nieuwerkerken in 1954. Behind Schelfheidewinning lies another old farmstead (seen on the right in the photo), the Schelfhoeve, also dating from the 18th century. This is located near the site of a former castle. Behind the Schelfhoeve is a semicircular moat, which is connected to a pond containing an island on which the castle mound was situated.

St. Joseph's Chapel is idyllically situated in the middle of a country lane, along the Raasbeek stream, beneath a weeping willow. There's a bench and a swing attached to one of the weeping willow's branches. And, surprisingly, anyone who pays attention will also notice that this chapel has a house number 😃

Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fever. Rectangular brick chapel from the 19th century, shaded by several lime trees. Our Lady is invoked here for all kinds of illnesses, especially fever.

Idyllically situated chapel in the middle of a field path, along the Raasbeek stream, beneath a weeping willow. There's a bench and a swing built into one of the weeping willow's branches. And, surprisingly, anyone who pays attention will also notice that this chapel has a house number 😃

From the lookout tower you have a wonderful view!