Nazareth, between Lys and Scheldt

Meet at the village of Nazareth for a flat walk in a still rural area between Scheldt and Lys. There is parking behind the neoclassical Church of Our Lady and St. Anthony Abbot Church (1861-1864) (V), but you can also easily get there by public transport.

Walk in the corner diagonally right behind the church into the Lindendreef. You can immediately enjoy the peace and the wide green view. At the end of the drive you are at the Castle of Nazareth (1), built in 1772 in Louis XVI style. Walk to the left along the ramparts of the castle domain and turn right at the T-junction in the Leegzakstraat. After 500 m take the right again, again the Leegzakstraat. It will take you to the Oudenaardse Heerweg after about a kilometer. Cross, go straight ahead, cross another concrete road after 200 m and walk straight ahead into the Ouwegemstraat. The view is very open with alternating fields and meadows, deep ditches and sparse rows of trees. After 300 m you will arrive at the N35. Be careful when crossing and walk straight ahead in the Hooghuisgaverstraat. Ignore the Edemolenstraat and after 600 m follow the main road to the right (at the sign of the Flemish Ardennes cycling network) and walk 200 m further to the left into the Nerethstraat. In the next bend (sign Wijngaard) still stay on the main road and after 150 m walk right into the Wallebeekstraat. At the T-junction, turn right.

At the end of the Gaverstraat you walk straight on a paved gravel road between house numbers 15 and 19. The gravel road soon becomes an unpaved field road and a little later a narrow path next to the Lozerbeek. Back on the concrete road, walk to the left and 100 m further you choose a narrow cobblestone road on the right (sign Neerrechemstraat nos. 39 to 77). Turn right at house number 61. The cobblestone road becomes a narrow path and takes you over the Lozerbeek back to the main road. Cross the N437 and walk straight ahead in the Geldstraat and at the football square to the left in the Waterhoekstraat. The forest on the right was planted in 2000 as part of the Waterhoek Nature Project, an initiative of the municipality of Kruishoutem in collaboration with the Forest and Green Department of AMINAL and the Regional Landscape Flemish Ardennes.

Leave the Lorkendreef behind and continue walking in the Waterhoekstraat. After 400 m, continue to the right in the wider Lozerbaan. On the left is the beautiful Nature Reserve Lozerbos (2). The Lozerbos is always accessible and hikers, cyclists and horse riders will find their own trail. Walk 50 m past the forest to the right in the Spiegelstraat. The view becomes open and wide again. At the end of the street, walk straight ahead on a narrow path. At house number 12 you turn left, where the narrow path becomes an asphalt road, and at the T-junction turn right on the concrete road. After 350 m, turn left along the Huisepontweg and continue for 75 m, next to house number 79, to the right on a narrow asphalt road. In the second bend, after house number 285, go straight on a single-lane concrete road and turn right at the T-junction and turn left at the next fork (with traffic mirror). After 500 m you are back at the busy N35.

Cross diagonally left (carefully!) and walk into the Beenstraat. At the next intersection, go straight ahead, still in the Beenstraat. After 600 m, turn right on a narrow asphalt road. The open space here just off the E17 is noisy. On the left you see the impressive gatehouse of the farm De Roopoorte (3), already mentioned in 1407.
Now ignore all the side streets and walk straight ahead. After about a kilometer you enter the hustle and bustle of the village center. Just past the roundabout on the N437 you are back at the village church. On the Village there are opportunities around the church for a nap and a drink.