The heart of West-Flanders
Hooglede-Gits is a cosy, rural village in the heart of West-Flanders and is the ideal base from which to explore the whole province. The ridge is the central landscape unit and separates the Lys river basin from the ‘Ijzer’ river basin. The slightly undulating landscape lets you enjoy exceptional panoramas at various places. The village belongs to the ‘Westhoek’(Flanders Fields), but is located at the intersection of this region, the ‘Brugse Ommeland’ (Bruges and the polders) and the ‘Leiestreek’ (Lys region). Also, the Belgian coast is conveniently nearby.
Cycling and hiking
Cyclists and hikers will certainly find something to their liking. There are several junctions of important cycling networks nearby, as well as local cycling routes (Gitsbergroute,…), a mountainbike route (WC cyclo cross 2007) and an agricultural learning route (Serretoer). Through the municipal hiking route (and along slow roads) you can walk to every corner of the town. Also, in Hooglede-Gits, everybody is a Flandrien! This is shown in the many national / international cycling and cyclo-cross races which were organized here in the past few years.
Play and enjoy
Near the mill, you can find the play-and-learn farm ‘Hoeve ter Kerst’. Here, visitors are introduced, in a child-friendly manner, to a piece of authentic rural life. Local delicacies are the ‘Teugelbier’ and the ‘Geytetaart’ (jam cake from the ‘Geyte’ area).
(War) heritage
Hooglede-Gits also contains some protected monuments, including the Town Hall, the ‘Dubbele Arend’ hostel, the ‘Gryspeerdmolen’,… The war museum, which is located in the basement of the library in Hooglede, is small but surprisingly beautiful. It offers you a look at the battles of 1794, WW I & WW II. A large collection of authentic weapons, military and other documents tell a story of brutal events in and around Hooglede-Gits. The German military cemetery ‘Ehrenfriedhof Hooglede Ost’ is also protected as heritage and is one of four large German cemeteries from WW I in Flanders, next to those of Menen, Langemark and Vladslo.
