If you’re looking for a base for a couple of days in Flanders, Belgium, may I suggest Oudenaarde – it is an absolute gem! It’s about an hour and 40 minute drive from Calais, so not too far if you bring the car on the ferry or Le Shuttle.
Like many of the towns in the region. Oudenaarde has a beautiful cobbled market square bordered on one side by a gorgeous Gothic Town Hall. As well as having bags of quaint Medieval charm, Oudenaarde is the heart of cycling in Flanders. It’s in this beautiful town where the Flandrien Challenge begins.
The Flandrien Challenge
If you take your adventure on two wheels, chances are that you will have heard of the Flandrien Challenge – it’s the ultimate test of determination, taking participants up cobblestone climbs and through beautiful countryside landscapes.
The challenge is to cover 59 sections of the route within 72 hours. You can check out the route on Strava by linking your account to cyclingingflanders.cc, it’s just over 470 miles, but this is variable depending on how you select the route.
If you’re tough enough to cover all those 59 segments in the allotted 72 hours, you will be deemed a legend, and you’ll have a cobble on the wall of fame! Simply show your completed Strava route at the counter in the Centre Ronde van Vlaanderen cycle shop/cafe at Markt 43, in Oudenaarde. They’ll also send you an inscribed cobble to keep at home as a memento of your achievement.
Cycling is as key to the Belgian identity as beer. This makes it perfect as a family destination because there are so many cycling paths that are divided from the road, so you feel safe. This is especially good if you’re more of an occasional cyclist or if you’re cycling with children.
If you’re headed to the Flanders region and you haven’t brought your own bikes with you, it’s not a problem at all! Bicycle rentals are plentiful in the area. In fact, while Mark was off cycling tackling the Flandrien Challenge, Mack and I headed to Afra cycles and picked up a couple of ebikes.
We had such a fun time whizzing around the dedicated cycle paths of Flanders, racing the cargo boats as they made their way along the canals (in a safe and responsible fashion, obviously)!
Ghent
I had no expectations of Ghent and I was absolutely blown away by how pretty this city is. Cobbled streets lined with mediaeval buildings winding alongside the Leie and Scheldt rivers.
While Mark set off on another leg of the Flandrien Challenge, Mack and I made our way to Ghent for some culture! It’s only 30 minutes on the train from Oudenaarde and I would definitely recommend a visit if you get the chance.
First things first though, if you are planning on visiting the ticketed attractions in Ghent you should have a look at the Ghent City Pass. Buying the Ghent City Pass can be very cost-effective as it gives you one free entry to pretty much all of the attractions in Ghent and use of public transport. It also includes the boat trips and I’d 100% recommend the boat trip as the best way to see the city’s Gothic architecture and hidden gems.
If you’re a fan of Horrible Histories and grizzly tales, check out the Castle of the Counts comedic audio tour (included in the City Pass), it’s really funny and suitable for children. It’s a great way to put a new spin on history and the Castle itself is spectacular!
We also took the immersive tour at St Bavo’s Cathedral to discover the history of the Ghent Altarpiece, the Lamb of God. This is a clever and well delivered immersive experience, using headset and visor, and tells the story of the adoration of The Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck Brothers from 1432.
This artwork has really been through it!
It survived being in Paris during the French revolution, partial theft, storage in salt mines, and during the Second World War it was very nearly blown up on Hitler’s instruction! It was one of the artworks rescued by the so-called Monuments Men. Important note, there’s a £10 charge above the cost of the Ghent City Pass for this experience and it must be booked in advance.
There are so many other things to do with the Ghent City Pass, ideally, you’d have more than a day! Indeed, the card is valid for 48 hours from the point of activation. On my next visit I’ll be sure to climb the Ghent Belfry and visit the Gold Dragon. I’d also like to visit the vineyard in Saint Peters Abbey.
Where we stayed
Leopold Hotel – Oudenaarde – The Leopold is a lovely four-star hotel with super friendly staff who made our stay a pleasure. As well as having hotel rooms, the Leopold has small suites with extra facilities that can sleep two adults and two children (or three adults), perfect for a family adventure!
Where we ate
Wine and Dine – Oudenaarde – We had dinner at Wine and Dine, Hoogstraat 34. Mark particularly recommends the croquettes; he is still talking about them!
Brasserie De Cridts, Oudenaarde – We stopped here for some warming comfort food after our e-biking trip, they offer a lovely range of desserts, hot chocolate and warm drinks alongside a full a la carte menu.
Boker Tov – Ghent – We had lunch at Boker Tov on Burgstraat, a super-cute café serving Levantine foods (lots of vegan options). The café has a really pretty an indoor-outdoor courtyard where you can relax and enjoy your meal.
I hope this helps you to plan your trip to Flanders. Enjoy!
Article and images by Sally Bendall @girlabouttravel.
