What is your favourite way to spend a weekend on vacation? Many people love exploring a new place with a walk or cycle, some love to get to know the history of the area and others simply love relaxing, and enjoying new food. Oudenaarde has it all. In the heart of the Flemish Ardennes and Flanders, our city has a little of everything, ideal for a relaxing weekend away with friends, family, or a romantic weekend with your partner. Read on to discover how to spend your weekend in Oudenaarde, getting the best of our beautiful city. Start by booking a stay in Leopold Hotel Oudenaarde, one of the premier hotels in the area for a relaxing and comfortable weekend away.
1. EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF FLANDERS
Oudenaarde is a fantastic starting point for exploring the Flemish Ardennes with a thousand years of history within and endless rolling hills surrounding us. MOU (Museum of Oudenaarde) brings the history of our lovely home to the list. Through interactive media, exhibits and historical pieces, you are taken on a journey through time from medieval times until today. The museum lives in one of Belgium’s most beautiful town halls in the market square of Oudenaarde. Discover more about the city’s glorious textile past in the 14-century cloth hall, reliving the city’s heyday. You can admire 15 of the most important tapestries in Belgium in the high cloth hall, admire the De Boever-Alligoridès collection in another and visit one of the largest silver collections in Flanders in a third. Spend a fascinating afternoon in MOU and return enlightened.
2. CYCLING IN OUDENAARDE
Oudenaarde isn’t just a great city break for couples, it’s also a mecca for cyclists and lovers of the great outdoors. There are dozens of truly impressive cycling routes for visitors to enjoy ranging from a leisurely ramble to a challenging route. One of the most prestigious races in the world of cycling, Tour De Flanders, comes through Oudenaarde and is the ultimate cycling challenge for even the most experienced rider. The Retro Ronde van Vlaanderen is a fun experience where riders from all across Europe wear vintage and retro clothing and ride classic bikes. It’s a fun, leisurely ride instead of a competition and a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. If you’re taking part in a cycling event in Oudenaarde, you can book comfortable accommodation in Leopold Hotel Oudenaarde
3. HIKING IN OUDENAARDE
The Ardennes is a place filled with breathtaking nature and there are plenty of hikes and walks to cater to all ages. Enjoy a scenic walk around the mountains, discovering the slopes of The Tour of Flanders or lose yourself in Recreation Domain De Donk. Better yet take a towel and go swimming to cool down at some of the beautiful lakes, such as The Eau d’Heure, Warfaaz, and Robert. The Bouillon Castle is a popular spot to walk too, dating back to 998CE. Climb up the Vauban flights of stairs discovering the rooms of the castle and take in the amazing views at the top of the Austria Tower. You could just spend the afternoon wandering around the city enjoying the architecture and stopping for a bite to eat.
4. EXPLORE THE CUISINE OF FLANDERS
You’ve probably tried Belgian food and drink even if you didn’t intend to. Our country produces some of the best beer and chocolate anywhere in the world and our methods and quality are known all over the world. Oudenaarde and the wider Flanders area have always been known for great beer and breweries. Today, there are 4 breweries in Flanders still in operation -Roman, Liefmans, Cnudde and Smisje that you can visit. Our Belgian chocolate heritage dates back hundreds and hundreds of years and is a pride and joy for the country. You’ll find delicious Belgian chocolate in many shops and cafes around Oudenaarde.
5. RELAX IN LEOPOLD HOTEL OUDENAARDE
For some, a weekend away involves no activity at all, just a relaxing weekend spent in a comfortable hotel. Leopold Hotel offers a perfect getaway location. Our hotel in central Oudenaarde is stylish and modern giving guests a 4-star boutique hotel experience. Bar Del Mundo, our bar and brasserie also offers al fresco dining so you can dine in the sunshine. Enjoy a relaxing drink on your visit, with a menu of cocktails, fine wines and local beers. Our guest rooms are spacious and luxurious with high-speed internet, multi-channel TVs and all of the usual facilities of a four-star hotel.
Author Bio: Katie McGarr is a daytime writer for Leopold Hotel Oudenaarde, a four-star boutique hotel in the city centre of Oudenaarde in the heart of the Flemish Ardennes. Since this free-spirited damsel loves to go on adventures, she’s got a lot to say about travel, dining, cultural enjoyment, and lifestyle.