The best running trails around Jodoigne

Sometimes busy, but otherwise ideal for a bit of acceleration. But if you really want to, the small roads around it are much nicer in terms of views.

The Hoegaarden monks were the first to discover the unique wheat beer recipe in 1445. Historical sources tell us that the first wheat beer was incredibly sour—until the monks of Hoegaarden began experimenting with orange peel and coriander. This divine discovery makes today's beer one of the world's most famous Hoegaarden recipes.

'Vicomté' stands for viscounty and 'La Vicomté' is sometimes also used as a nickname for Jodoigne. Viscounts of Jodoigne were originally noble titles that were awarded to members of the family de Glymes de Hollebecque, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries. This title was often linked to the possession of the castle de la Vicomté. It is not so easy to see the structure and size of this castle by sight. When you come from the Gete you walk along a rising path with an old wall on the left and an old fence with an old gate and old stairs in the depths on the right. It seems as if all this merges seamlessly into the terrain behind the castle of Vicomté. The small tower in brick and Gobertange stone that Dominiek mentions is the first recognizable part of the domain when you walk to the main square. From the main square it is a lot easier: you recognize the house immediately. Photos of the various parts that make it up, with some history, can be found at https://www.destinationbw.be/nl/fiche/ontdekking-en-recreatie/het-kasteel-van-vicomte-jodoigne_TFOLOD-A0-007C-15NJ/ Also mention that on the Vicomté domain there are still remains of the ramparts that once stood around Jodoigne and that were first built in the thirteenth century. That rampart had several towers and gates. It enclosed the primitive castle that stood on the site of the current Château Pastur. Something more about the Counts of Glymes who stayed here in the 17th century: Jodoigne was then just going through a period of decline. The 17th century was called the century of adversity (and the 16th century was not much better). In the 17th century, the King of Spain transferred the Jodoigne estate to Philippe de Ligne, Duke of Aarschot and Arenberg. And a few years later, it was bought by Count Winant de Glymes. Winant de Glymes and his wife Michelle d'Yedeghem lived in this castle of Vicomté. A few dozen meters further on the market, in the chapelle Notre-Dame du Marché, is their tomb. The Glymes family had a strong bond with Jodoigne. Guillaume de Glymes, already lived in a country house in Jodoigne-Souveraine in the fourteenth century, the predecessor of the current castle there that was built by the half-brothers Antoine-Joseph de Glymes and Ernest-Joseph de Spangen.

The castle was owned by the Viscounts of Jodoigne and the Counts of Glymes in the 16th and 17th centuries. What remains of the old castle today is a beautiful and large building, recently renovated, whose facade in Gobertange stone gives an extra touch to the Grand’Place. The building continues along the rue de la Maladrerie and ends on a very beautiful turret or “gloriette” in brick and Gobertange stone. The castle is now private. (Experience Walloon Brabant)

beautiful pond where you can walk all around, cyclists prohibited

The Gete was always a lifeline for Hoegaarden. It once powered a total of four watermills. On the other side of the road you can see another mill building. It also enabled trade with various cities, even Antwerp. It was also a river with a lot of fish and reportedly very suitable for brewing beer. But it was also important in many wars. Nearby, on the old bridge, you can see an information board and a reminder of the First World War in the context of the "Getelinie Commemoration". You can read more about Hoegaarden and the Gete at https://hoegaardserfgoed.be/gidsen-voor-beginners/b057/

The beer garden at the brewery no longer exists (Sept. 2024)

Superb very peaceful Ravel, a delight in spring