Wevelgem: Nature, Flax and Architectural Heritage

Wevelgem brings together a range of themes to consider when planning a trip: the FAS Luchtvaartmuseum focuses on the history of Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport, while architectural and industrial heritage can be seen at various locations. There are also green spaces, walking routes and experiences centred on wine, beer and coffee. If you are looking for a hotel in Wevelgem, you can first decide which of these interests you want to shape your stay.

Aviation history and flax architecture

The FAS Luchtvaartmuseum presents the history of Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport. Its exhibits include models, dioramas, cockpits and instruments. Different types of exhibits explore the same theme: models and dioramas sit alongside insights into cockpits and instruments. This gives technology enthusiasts a tangible starting point for exploring aviation history.

The architectural heritage also offers a range of points of interest. Numerous flax barns shape the townscape in Wevelgem; many are monumental in scale. The distinctive “botekoperswoningen” seen in the streetscape are also connected with the flax industry. Together, these building types point to different aspects of local flax culture. The protected complex of Kasteel Vanackere includes two garden pavilions, a berceau and a war memorial. Six information panels in the park of Kasteel Vanackere in Wevelgem describe notable places in the municipal gardens.

Other historic sites offer different points of interest: Kloosterboskapel is a typical wayside chapel. It was built between 1854 and 1862 and dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Vanbutseles molen is a stone Dutch-style windmill dating from 1850–1851. Hoeve Kloosterhof, in turn, was the farmstead of the vanished Guldenberg Abbey. A moat, a walled kitchen garden and meadows surround the farmstead; the surroundings are protected as a village landscape and also include a plane-tree avenue. Menenwald German Military Cemetery lies on the border between Menen and Wevelgem.

Green spaces and trails

Provinciedomein Bergelen covers 47 hectares. The Heulebeek flows through it and follows a largely natural course there. The area is accessible to pedestrians; a section of the cycling network also runs through it, as does the Zilveren Spoor bridle route. These details help distinguish the activities on offer: walking, cycling and horse riding each have their own routes.

Het Leiebos covers approximately 20 hectares. Wevelgem provides digital walking routes through RouteYou. If you prefer to plan a cycling trip, consider the Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields cycling route: it is 128 kilometres long and can be started in Wevelgem at the Guldenbergplein car park. Walking routes, a section of the cycling network and a named, longer cycling route offer different ways to shape a trip around your interests.

Tours and food and drink experiences

At Wijngaard den eik, tours of the vineyard, explanations of winemaking and a tasting go together. Visits are by appointment. Brouwerij Gulden Spoor offers bookable tours with tastings of Gulden Spoor, Netebuk and Feniks beers. If you plan one of these guided tastings, arrange your visit accordingly and check available dates in advance.

Grootmoeders Koffie combines a visit to a coffee roastery with a coffee museum. It also offers coffee tastings and barista training, including how to prepare cappuccino or latte macchiato. Alongside vineyard and brewery tours, coffee and its preparation are also available as distinct themes. The experiences differ not only in the drink, but also in their focus: winemaking, beer tasting, or roasting and coffee culture.

Plan your stay around your interests

When choosing a hotel, you can first consider which experiences matter most for your trip: aviation and architectural history, trails through green spaces, or a tour with a tasting. The differences between the routes also offer a practical way to plan: walking routes are available digitally through RouteYou, while the Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields cycling route has a stated length of 128 kilometres and can be started at Guldenbergplein. These details can help you decide which activities you would like to look into, without having to fit every theme into the same stay.

Discover more destinations: Moorsele, Tielt, Oudenburg, Wervik, Ruiselede, Wingene, Spiere-Helkijn, Oostrozebeke.

For the broader travel overview: West Flanders.