Discover Lissewege: Ter Doest, the church and the landscape

Lissewege can be explored through a range of interests: the history of the Lisseweegs Vaartje, the architecture of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Bezoekingkerk and Ter Doest, and routes through the landscape. Cycling and nature watching also offer specific points of interest. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Lissewege, these themes can help you decide what to focus on when planning your trip.

Waterway and village character

The Lisseweegs Vaartje runs through Lissewege. It was built in the 13th century to connect Lissewege and Bruges; historically, it linked Bruges, Ter Doest Abbey and the village of Lissewege. This distinguishes the waterway’s original purpose from its broader historical role. The village landscape includes a small canal, whitewashed polder houses and expansive fields. Water, the settlement and open spaces thus offer their own aspects of the place alongside its buildings.

Church, abbey and art

The Cistercians developed the Ter Doest site into a complete monastic complex. Its surviving buildings include a dovecote tower dating from 1651, a monumental gatehouse from 1662 and the abbey barn from the 14th century. While the barn dates to the 14th century, the gatehouse and dovecote tower have specific dates.

Built of brick, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Bezoekingkerk dates from the 13th century and is an example of Coastal Gothic architecture. Its interior brings together a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary from 1625, a striking organ case, and an intricately carved rood screen and pulpit from 1652. The church’s construction date and its later-dated furnishings therefore represent different historical periods. The church also offers a view of the busy activity in the port of Zeebrugge. You can climb the tower via 264 steps; opening conditions may vary.

The Heiligenmuseum displays more than 150 statues of saints in a unique historic setting. Together with the buildings and their furnishings, these offer different ways to explore religious art and history: from the monastic complex and the church’s architecture to individual objects inside the church and the museum’s statues.

Walking, cycling and nature

The signposted Ter Doest walking route is 8.8 kilometres long. It passes through damp meadows and follows quiet paths bordered by reeds. This provides a clearly defined route for a walk, with its landscape character described. Lissewege is also a suitable starting point for cycling trips. Walking and cycling thus offer two different ways to add activity to your stay.

Salt-tolerant plants grow in the Monnikenmoere area, including sea aster, glasswort, saltmarsh rush, sea club-rush and sea milkwort. The area is also a breeding ground for meadow birds such as oystercatchers, lapwings, black-tailed godwits and redshanks. Plants and breeding birds are the focus here; this perspective on the landscape differs from the walking route, whose description highlights damp meadows and reed-bordered paths.

Arriving by train

Lissewege has its own railway station. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Bezoekingkerk is a five-minute walk away. Check the timetable separately for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Assebroek, Sint-Andries, Sint-Michiels Brugge, Zeebrugge, Dudzele, Sint-Kruis.

Return to the main travel overview: Bruges.