Heuvelland, land of plenty with a guide on Thursday, August 13, 2026

Heuvelland, lekkerland met gids op donderdag 13 augustus 2026 Heuvelland, in West Flanders on the border with France, is a unique region of rolling hills like the Kemmelberg and sweeping panoramas. The sun-drenched slopes make the area ideal for viticulture, with a growing reputation for refined local wines. Just across the border in French Flanders lie charming rural border villages that give the region an authentic character. The influence of the Cistercians is also palpable, with their tradition of simplicity and connection to the landscape, visible in abbeys such as Abdij van Catsberg. Our daily schedule: Departure from pick-up point sharp : 7:30 AM Opdorp church – 7:45 AM Centrum Post/ station – 8:00 AM Opstal church. We drive via Ghent-Kortrijk and Ypres and reach Poperinge for breakfast: coffee and a pastry. Next, we drive through the beautiful Heuvelland with a guide. On the flanks of the hills, we soon see the vineyards. At the winemaker's, we receive an explanation and watch a film about the process from grape to wine. We taste 2 types of wine and a wine praline. The A ppellation d' O rigine P rotégée quality label is a guarantee, and this pioneer winemaker has already managed to win quite a few prestigious awards. Menu: Fresh soup of the day, half a spit-roasted chicken with raw vegetables and fresh fries, pastry of the day with coffee. Afternoon: Nearby is the French border, and we take an exploration tour 'over the Schreve ' (as the border is called here) along the French villages with a Flemish name such as Boeschepe, Godewaersvelde, Berthen, Abeele, and Steenvoorde. We are in the French hill country, with a Cistercian monk abbey on top of the Catsberg. We take a short, beautiful walk and pop into the abbey shop; everything we see there is made by monks and nuns in French monasteries. Naturally, you can buy the delicious cheese and Trappist beer, and the guide will tell you all about the life of the Cisterciënzermonniken of Trappisten. Before we head home, we stop for an evening bread lunch with 1 drink (no luxury beers), offered by our Elderly Advisory Council at Flanders Lodge Hotel in Ypres. Included in the price: The coach trip, coffee with a pastry, exploration of Heuvelland, visit to the winemaker with tasting, three-course lunch, introduction to the Cistercian monk abbey, the evening stop with lunch offered by our OAR, and full-day guide assistance. How to register and pay? Price: 53 euros Register : before August 6, 2026 Registration is final after payment Bij Armand De Raedt via e-mail: armand.de.raedt@telenet.be or mobile 0477 990 534 Pay to bank account number: BE26 0689 3494 4429 of the senior council stating your name and pick-up point. Attention! Places are limited to 98 participants – Be quick.