New hiking trail Calmeyn from 1 June
Tourism Essen and Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide put a new walk on the map:
"ON THE (CYCLING) TRAIL OF HENRI CALMEYN !"
From 1 June, you can try out 'walk Calmeyn'. It is the 25th official walk of the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide and makes a nice connection from gate Hemelrijk (Moerkantsebaan 50) to the entrance of the Grenspark at Huybergsebaan (3.5km). There you can connect to other walks in the Grenspark. However, you can also walk back to gate Hemelrijk in loop form via another beautiful route (all together 8km).
Along the way, there are also several opportunities to fortify the inner man. (catering establishments, but also picnic areas).
WHO WAS HENRI CALMEYN?
Henri Calmeyn (1862-1931) owned most of the current Essen-Heikant district and himself lived at Hemelrijk castle. He was also the first Essener to own a bicycle. This was a "Hoge Bi", one of those unusual models with an oversized front wheel and a tiny rear wheel, very popular at the end of the 19th century. You can still admire this original bicycle throughout the tourist season at our tourist office.
Calmeyn rode this 'velo' from his castle to the Stappersven on the Kalmthoutse Heide to hunt ducks. In doing so, he used the straight road through his forest, which was later named "Velodreef". The first part of the walk follows the route Calmeyn took on his high bicycle.
From 1 June, you can pick up a free flyer about this hike at the tourist office Tasberg or at various tourist offices and catering outlets.
(Source and photo: Tourism Essen)
