Gent & Oudenaarde

durhamwasp

We are heading to Oudenaarde for a few days late in August, aiming to cycle some of the Muur's of the Gent-Wevelgem and Tour of Flanders.

Also gonna go on a ride to Gent, and was wondering if anybody can advise me of the street that the old cafe del engelen was on, and what it is these day? Last i remember, it was still a bar, different name and ran by russians?

Also, any general tips anybody has about cycling around there? We are of course going to the RVV museum to see Tom's bike and eat a spaghetti Boonenaise!

fietslogies

Is this the café you're referring to?

Café Den Engel, Dendermondsesteenweg,Gent (Sint-Amandsberg), where the fans of Tom Simpson gathered. It will close end of 2011 and be replaced by an apartment block.

About cycling between Ghent and Oudenaarde. The towpaths along the Schelde have cycle highway allures.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ghent-Oudenaarde-Tournai-Gand-Audenaerde-Tournai-Gent-Oudenaarde

These signposted alternatives pass along some old meanders and scenic places:

http://users.telenet.be/roger.blomme1/FietsRoutes/Scheldevallei1route_Web_1.pdf + http://users.telenet.be/roger.blomme1/FietsRoutes/Scheldevallei2_Web_OK.pdf = Ghent-Gavere-Oudenaarde
http://www.tov.be/uploadedfiles/_producten/routes/Vlaamse_Ardennen/fietsroutes/Scheldeval3.pdf = Oudenaarde-Berchem

In Oudenaarde and it's surroundings:

http://www.tov.be/uploadedfiles/_producten/routes/Vlaamse_Ardennen/fietsroutes/EddyMerckxkaart.pdf = Eddy Merckx Tour
http://www.tov.be/uploadedfiles/_producten/routes/Vlaamse_Ardennen/fietsroutes/AdriaenBrouwerkaartA4.pdf = Adriaen Brouwer Tour along local breweries.

! The section of the Ottergemsesteenweg along the Scheldt between the Ghent Ringvaart (Circular Canal) and Zwijnaarde is interrupted. That's from the Sluisweg till the Nieuwescheldestraat.

durhamwasp

Thanks for that, great help!

So the bar should stil be open in August then? Great

durhamwasp

Typically Google streetview does not work for Gent. Do you happen to know a exact address for the cafe, or what street crosses it closest? Thanks a lot!

fietslogies

It's 20 meters before the T-crossing of the Engelstraat with the Dendermondsesteenweg in Sint-Amandsberg (eastside of Ghent). It seems impossible to find the exact address on the web. Even this Facebook page doesn't help a lot:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:sWnTNgG223oJ:nl-nl.facebook.com/pages/Red-Café-Den-Engel/188013354555524%3Fviewas%3D0%26sk%3Dwall+facebook+red+den+engel&cd=2&hl=nl&ct=clnk&gl=be&source=www.google.be

durhamwasp

Cheers mate, thats a great help

Really hope its still open in August!

fietslogies

durhamwasp wrote:

We are staying in Camping Canteclaer on Rekegemstraat 12 in 9630 Zwalm.

Can you suggest any cycle route from there to Gent? And also there to Oudenaarde?

Also any suggested routes to get onto the Ronde route, and complete the muur's from 1 to 15.

Thanks a lot!

Well, that camping is located near cycle node 15. From there you can cycle towards the Scheldt using other nodes. Not that efficient but quite pleasant to see the valley of the Zwalm, and what's left of the watermills. Some are in terrible condition, others have been restaurated. Use the leftbank of the Scheldt for cycling to Ghent. When nearing Zwijnaarde, follow the signposted alternative bicycle route.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ghent-Oudenaarde-Tournai-Gand-Audenaerde-Tournai-Gent-Oudenaarde

For going to Oudenaarde, the same track is fine, but here again you can make use of the bicycle node network:

http://www.fietsnet.be/routeplanner/default.aspx

Anyway, I posted already a few links in an earlier answer. Check them again.

Have a pleasant cycling trip!

jc4lab

My memory of Ghent was one of pretty streets with massive cobbles that loosen ever nut on yer bike..

fietslogies

jc4lab wrote:

My memory of Ghent was one of pretty streets with massive cobbles that loosen ever nut on yer bike..

;-) These days, only in the historical center you will still find cobbles. If interested in avoiding them, we have a bicycle route planner for Ghent with an option to avoid cobblestones:

http://fietsrouteplanner.gentfietst.be/index.html?language=en_US

durhamwasp

Thanks again! Thats a great help! Can't wait, only 4wks to go!

durhamwasp

Just got back from one the best cycling weekends ive experienced, Flanders really is made for cycling!

We stayed in Munkzwalm and did the Orange (72km) and Green (114km) routes, taking in the majority of cobbled climbs from the Ronde. I can't say enough about just how well sign-posted the routes are, how cycle friendly the roads are and how challenging the climbs are! Unbelievable!

We also visited the RvV museum in Oundenaarde which was worth seeing and paid a quick stop by at the Cafe den Engel in Gent, though unfortunately its strange opening hours (9-3 on a Sunday) meant we couldnt sup a pint in there.

Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14517535@N04/sets/72157627431589823
Trip report: http://snookcycling.wordpress.com/vlaanderen/