From Mazenzele to the Kravaalbos

Mazenzele is the southernmost borough of Opwijk. The village square (V), where you start, is still the historic triangular dries, with the inaustral St. Peter's Church, which seems to have been plucked from the Middle Ages. The early Gothic tower dates from the 13th century. Get to the busy Dendermondsesteenweg and cross at the traffic lights. Then follow the Molenstraat. After 50 m, between houses nos. 5 and 7, turn right into the footpath and in it the first exit on the left. Then cross the Zottegemstraat and diagonally to the right into the Lepelstraat. It ends at a junction of earth roads; there to the left. After 250 m you will arrive at a T-junction, where you turn right, towards Kravaalbos. That forest received the Pasar label 'most beautiful place in Opwijk' 1, as indicated here. It is located on the territory of three municipalities (Opwijk, Aalst and Asse) and two provinces. The Kravaalbos is all that remains of a vast forest, which belonged to the abbey of Affligem in the Middle Ages. Even today it is still privately owned, but partly also nature reserve and protected landscape. The current 80 ha are very fragmented by meadows, arable farming and private estate. Nevertheless, it is still very valuable, especially because of protected bird species and some rich source areas and stream valleys. A project was recently started to expand the Kravaalbos. You stay on the trails, of course. A beautiful, straight drive leads through the first forest plot and then collides with a large meadow, surrounded by forest. First you have to turn right and a little further left, under a layer of foliage, to get to the next forest edge, overlooking greenhouses. Turn left again, defying a sturdy barrier, and turn counterclockwise around the large meadow. At the next corner of it again an intersection: choose right. Here you pick up on the red and white GR path. On the T left. Also at the next intersection, 100 m further, follow the GR, so turn right, along the stream and the edge of the forest. At the next T, turn left. Two streams merge here: beautiful stream valleys and undoubtedly rich biotopes. After 150 m and a short climb you get a view of a white farm. Here you no longer follow red and white, but you do follow the forest edge, and so you turn left. You leave that white farm on the right. You will automatically end up in the Dorpveldstraat, near a sports field 2 with café and chapel. Follow the street to the left. Past no. 38 with the curious forging In den groene jager you step left into a footpath, again to the edge of the forest. There on the right, between the meadows towards the houses, with beautiful views of the Kravaalbos everywhere. You enter the rising Lepelstraat, walk left and at the top left again into the Heuvelstraat. At the end there is a beautiful Sint-Rochus chapel on the left and the entrance drive leaves from a villa domain, Berkenhof 3, which occupies a piece of Kravaalbos. Here straight ahead into the Vogelenzang. At the end, at house No. 3, you leave the asphalt in the bend and continue to stroll straight ahead, into a slightly hollow road. The field road first crosses a wet area and then rises to the ridge. Cross the field intersection, leave the houses on the right and step towards the spruce grove. You can't go straight through it, so you circle all the way around on the right. On the other side, the forest road becomes a field road that descends through the fields, perhaps cornfield, towards Mazenzele. Down at the intersection, leave the houses on the right and head straight ahead. The wide field road curves slowly to the right. At the next mini forest a narrow road branches off to the right and then runs along a stream towards the village bowl. You just have to follow it. However, you still have to cross the Heerbaan and the Dendermondsesteenweg. All the while, the ancient bell tower beckoned from afar.