Discover Sint-Maria-Lierde

Sint-Maria-Lierde combines a strongly hilly landscape with stream valleys, historic buildings and varied hiking trails. Those planning a trip with nature experiences and cultural exploration will find different ways to organise their day here: from a 12.5-kilometre hike through the Uilenbroek to historic sites such as the Carthusian site. When looking for a holiday apartment in Sint-Maria-Lierde, it is therefore worth first considering whether the focus should be more on long hikes, observing the landscape, or history and religious heritage.

Hills, stream valleys and distinctive landscapes

The character of the area is shaped by numerous hills and stream-cut valleys. The most significant of these valleys is the Broekebeek valley. The changing landscape is also clearly visible in the Parkbos-Hasseltbos area: the Parkbosbeek valley runs through the centre, with woodland growing on its steeper slope. The less steep valley slope is occupied by pastureland, while small arable fields lie on the flat hilltop.

In the Uilenbroek, wet meadows, hedges, ponds and traditional orchards alternate. These various landscape elements provide a varied setting for walks and hikes, without every tour having the same character. To the north of Sint-Maria-Lierde, the Waesberg is also nearby, with a viewpoint overlooking the surrounding area.

Hikes for different daily itineraries

The Parkbos-Uilenbroek hiking trail is 12.5 km long and offers a practical option for an active day. Those looking for a greater challenge can plan the Stationsstapper Lierde–Ronse. This day hike covers 28 km, passes through some of the best-known forests of the Vlaamse Ardennen and includes several demanding climbs. The two routes thus represent different ways of experiencing the landscape: a clearly defined hike or a long day of hiking with significant ascents.

One detail is important when planning your journey via Lierde railway station: the station is not located on the hiking trail network. From the station, the Stationsstapper Lierde–Ronse leads 1.2 km towards junction 54. If you want to coordinate your accommodation with your hiking plans, you should take this connection into account when choosing your daily route.

Chapels, priory and historic traces

A quiet cultural highlight is the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Lourdes Chapel, also known as the “Vulders Chapel”. It was built in 1863 on the orders of Remi De Vulder and developed into a small pilgrimage site. A footpath leads via Lierdekouter to the church of Sint-Maria-Lierde, complementing the historic destinations with a route through the local landscape.

The Carthusian site near the Lierde cemetery was established between 1329 and 1352 as the Sint-Martens-Bos Carthusian priory. At the site, visitors can see the priory house, gate, women’s quarters, brewery, barn, part of the surrounding wall and the church. This makes it possible to discover the history of the area through several surviving sections.

Kasteel ten Riede is another notable historic trace. The former castle, also known by the names ten Rie, ten Ryen, ten Reede or ten Ridders, is said to have been built in 1664 as a moated castle in the Broekebeek valley on the Eekhoutdries, south of the village church. The straight access avenue lined with beech trees is still present. Next to the former site of the Eikenmolen, there is also a former miller’s house dating from 1787. The wooden windmill itself operated until 1931 and was demolished in 1934; its location is already marked on a map from 1743 and as “Eecken Meulen” on the Ferraris map from 1771–1778.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

When choosing accommodation in Sint-Maria-Lierde, you can therefore use your desired travel rhythm as the starting point. For extended hiking days, the length of the planned route, the climbs and the railway connection are important factors. Those who prefer to combine several shorter discoveries can make the landscape of Parkbos-Hasseltbos, the Uilenbroek, the chapel and the historic sites the focus of their plans. A holiday apartment in Sint-Maria-Lierde is therefore especially interesting if you do not want to limit your stay to a single attraction, but want to combine nature, trails and history.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lierde.