Haspengouw is situated in the south of Limburg and is mainly known for its fruit. The rolling landscape is ideally suited to cultivate fruit and viticulture. This region also has a very rich history, traces of which you can still see today.

The Fruit Region

This fruity region attracts many visitors every year. It all starts around April when the fruit trees transform into a vast blossom sea. Perfect for beautiful bike rides and walks. When the flowers turn into millions of ready-to-pick fruits, you can enjoy and taste the rich harvest. Thanks to the hilly landscape, Haspengouw has the most wine estates in Limburg. Do you want to become a real fruit expert? Then pop into Fruit Experience Center Fruitbelevingscentrum Stroopfabriek and experience the whole process from apple to sweet delicacy.

Two cyclists among the apple trees

Rich past and lively art

Besides the fruit, the region also houses a lot of interesting history, art, and heritage. Tongeren is one of the cities that breathes history. Ambiorix - the man who outsmarted Caesar - is already proudly waiting for you on the Grote Markt. If you want to know everything about Roman history and even more ancient times, visit the Gallo-Roman Museum. In the Teseum you can marvel at the most beautiful church treasures. Do you prefer to take your art treasures home? Then stroll around on the antique market on a Sunday morning.

In Haspengouw, castles and abbeys are scattered throughout the landscape, with the Grand Commandery Alden Biesen in Bilzen as the largest specimen. During your walk through Borgloon's rolling landscapes, you might just spot tents hanging in trees and a see-through church. They are part of the art project 'pit - art in open space': an absolute must-see during your visit to the region. Sint-Truiden has no fewer than 250 protected monuments. You pass the most beautiful ones following the Trudo monument walk. On top of the old abbey tower you have a magnificent view over the region.

Close up of a group of friends in the see-through church in Borgloon

Clay and wine

The area around Riemst has a clay and lime substrate, which entails a number of special features, both above and below the ground. This soil is ideal for wine cultivation, so you will find some of the best wine estates here. Wine castle Genoels-Elderen is the largest wine castle in Belgium. Years of marl mining in the region have created underground pearls such as the marl caves of Kanne and those of Zichen-Zussen-Bolder.

View of the wine castle Genoelselderen in Riemst with surrounding vineyards