Discover Stavele: trails and heritage

In Stavele, nature trails in the water-rich IJzerbroeken landscape sit alongside traces of the area’s agricultural and ecclesiastical history. There are different trail lengths to choose from: Eversambos has a short circular route, while the Brouckmolen Route is seven kilometres long. The church and farmsteads add specific aspects of the village’s heritage to the landscape.

Walking and cycling

Eversambos is in Stavele, near the IJzer, and covers 40 hectares for walking. The forest has a signposted nature area with a circular route of approximately two kilometres. After heavy rain, the forest can be wet; take this into account when planning your route.

A longer walking option is the seven-kilometre Brouckmolen Route. It explores the water-rich IJzerbroeken landscape via country roads, grass paths and the towpath along the IJzer. The route can start in the centre of Stavele or in Beveren aan de IJzer and leads to the Brouckmolen. The two walking options described differ in both length and route: a circular walk in the forest, or a route through the IJzerbroeken using several types of path.

At Eversambos, a bridge connects the wooded area to the towpath along the IJzer. In 2013, a cycling connection between Roesbrugge and Stavele and two recreational bridges across the IJzer were created to improve walking and cycling along the river. A cycling route runs along country roads through Lo-Reninge and the IJzerbroeken to Stavele, which is surrounded by water.

Farmstead, church and memorial sites

Hoeve Eversam in Stavele is a protected monument and a former abbey farm belonging to the vanished Eversam Abbey. The complex consists of a farmhouse, stables and a barn arranged in a row. A brick bridge over a filled-in moat leads to the farmstead. Here, its former role as an abbey farm meets the historic arrangement of the buildings.

The Sint-Jan-Onthoofding church complex in Stavele preserves several memorials to the First World War. These include a stained-glass triptych created by Ch. Lorin in 1919 for war volunteer Etienne Lorin. The complex also includes tombs for French soldier Léon Houdeau and Maurice Deloz. The church’s Van Peteghem organ dates from the 18th century and has been protected since 1981.

The war memorial in Stavele commemorates the village’s military dead who lost their lives in the First World War. It features an upright seated lion bearing the coat of arms of Stavele. The church’s location also helps orient visitors in the village: it stands just above the edge of the valley and is visible from the valley.

Landscape and orientation

Stavele lies on the edge of an area shaped by the valleys of the IJzer and the Poperingevaart. These valleys contain low-lying grasslands that are regularly flooded. They are botanically valuable and provide suitable habitats for many birds.

The “Hoog tij(d) in Eversam” forest treasure hunt starts at the Eversambos car park in Stavele. As route details may change, check them before setting off. The Dorpspunt in Stavele is a tourist information point; its operators provide information about leisure and tourism options in the municipality and the region.

Discover more destinations: Leisele, Hoogstade.

Go to the main travel overview: Alveringem.