Kortrijk and the Flemish Ardennes

The border between West and East Flanders, along the rolling landscape of the Flemish Ardennes and the Lys basin, is one of the most beautiful but lesser-known regions of Belgium. This two-day route connects five destinations that together tell a rich story of medieval cities, abbeys, battlefields and castles. Kortrijk forms the western starting point with its Battle of the Golden Spurs heritage, the Lys banks and the refined Broel Museum. From Oudenaarde you then explore the hills and abbeys of the Flemish Ardennes, finishing in fairytale-like Ooidonk in the Lys valley.

Begin the first day in Kortrijk at the Broel Museum, a fine city museum on the Lys with collections of Flemish painting, local history and contemporary art. The museum is wheelchair accessible via lifts. Then walk to the Groeninge Park, site of the iconic Battle of the Golden Spurs of 1302 and today a landscaped city garden with wide paved paths, sculptures and seating. The Lys banks themselves have been completely redesigned with adapted promenades, perfect for ending the day quietly with a view over the water.

On the second day you head via Oudenaarde to Ename. The MOU Museum of Oudenaarde shows in a renovated historic building the tapestries for which the city is world-famous. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible. Nearby lies the Ename abbey site with the archaeological remains and Saint Lawrence's Church: partially accessible, but in dry weather it combines well with a walk through the archaeological park. End the route at Ooidonk Castle in Deinze, one of the most beautiful moated castles in Flanders. The surrounding parks and the ground floor castle rooms have been worked out with attention to accessibility.

Practical tips: choose Kortrijk or Oudenaarde as your overnight base; both cities have accessible hotels and good train connections. Disabled parking spaces are present at all stops. The Flemish Ardennes have some hills and cobblestone routes, so follow the marked adapted roads. Plan a lunch break along the Lys or in the centre of Oudenaarde, both known for their accessible restaurants. You can combine the route with a stop at Saint Walburga's Church in Oudenaarde or the Flemish Ardennes vineyards.