A walk through a surprising piece of green Wilrijk, the goat village. Two centuries ago there were many poor people in Wilrijk. The city council gave the poorest inhabitants a goat, also called the cow of the poor, to survive. If there was a goat in your backyard, you were a goat's head, a poor person from Wilrijk. The route goes through Fort 6 and then along a piece of the Goat Path. From park domain Marienborgh you walk through forest to the nature reserve Groen Zuid. You will return to the starting point past the dilapidated reduit of Fort 6 and the Steytelinck park.
Distance: 10 km.
Time: 2h30.
Grade: Easy.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain: Flat.
Trail: Paved and unpaved.
Marking: Own description.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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Groen Neerland.
The walk starts at the Sint-Bavo church and goes past the Rizla factory and the E19 motorway to Fort 6. Fort 6 is part of the Brialmont belt and is currently owned by the University of Antwerp. You go around the moat of the fort and then follow a piece of the Goat Path. Via the park domain Marienborgh you walk through the forest to the park of Eden. If you don't have a four-legged friend with you, you can walk through the nature reserve Groen Neerland. If you are with the dog, you can walk around the nature reserve. From the nature reserve you walk back in the direction of Fort 6 to go around this imposing dilapidated building just before the reduit. The last part goes through the Wilrijk cemetery and the Steytelinckpark back to the starting point.
POI 2 - Groen Neerland.
The Groen Neerland Nature Reserve (9 ha) is located in the largely open and undeveloped landscape of the Brialmont Belt, in the center of the Park of Eden (18 ha). The play nature of the park, tailored to walkers and romping children, contrasts with the 'wild' nature of the reserve managed by Natuurpunt Zuidrand. The relief of the brook valley (6 m difference in height between Struisbeek and Krijgslaan), the different biotopes within grasslands, thickets, scrubs… and small landscape elements such as pools, anti-tank ditches, clay pit and blackthorn hedge, guarantee maximum biodiversity; this a stone's throw from the City!
Natuurpunt.
www.natuurpunt.be