Plan an Autumn Weekend Break in Oudenaarde

An autumn break in Belgium tends to conjure up Bruges or Ghent. But if you are looking for something less crowded, more rooted, and every bit as rewarding, Oudenaarde is one of the best weekend break destinations in the country. The Flemish Ardennes turn amber and gold, the cycling routes are quieter, the breweries are warm and welcoming, and the town has a pace that feels genuinely restorative. Here is what two or three nights at Leopold Hotel Oudenaarde looks like.

Arrive, Settle In, and Walk the Town

The Market Square and MOU Museum

Oudenaarde’s market square is one of the most striking in Flanders. The late-Gothic town hall, built between 1526 and 1537, is extraordinary in person and arguably the finest of its kind in Belgium. It houses the MOU Museum, which brings a thousand years of local history to life through interactive exhibits, original tapestries from Oudenaarde’s golden age as a textile centre, and silverware spanning centuries. Allow a couple of hours and go on an autumn afternoon when the warmth of the interior is part of the appeal.

The Beguinage and the Scheldt

The Beguinage, one of 26 UNESCO-listed beguinages in Flanders, has an extraordinary quietness once the day visitors have gone. The whitewashed courtyard houses and Baroque entrance gateway are among the most photogenic corners of the town. From there, the path along the River Scheldt is a lovely way to round off an arrival evening, with old buildings reflected in the water and the light fading over the hills.

Ga fietsen

Autumn on the Climbs

Autumn is one of the most rewarding seasons to cycle the Flemish Ardennes. The summer crowds on the Koppenberg, Paterberg, and Oude Kwaremont have eased, the roads are lined with turning leaves, and cooler temperatures make sustained climbing more comfortable than July. The light in September and October has a quality that is easy to appreciate from the top of any climb. Leopold Hotel Oudenaarde has secure bike storage, a washing area, and an e-bike charging station, so everything is in place for a full day in the saddle.

Cyclocross Season

If your break coincides with the cyclocross season, which runs September through February, you are in the right place. Cyclocross events in Flanders are part sport, part festival, with music, food stalls, and a crowd atmosphere unlike anything else in Belgian culture. Check the local calendar before you book. Watching riders tackle a muddy Flemish circuit on a cool October afternoon, local beer in hand, is not something you forget.

Explore the Breweries

Brouwerij Roman

Beer has been brewed in Oudenaarde since the Middle Ages and the region’s brewing tradition is one of the great reasons to visit. Brouwerij Roman, ten minutes east of town, traces its history to 1545 and is one of the oldest family breweries in Belgium. Guided tours run on weekdays all year and on Saturdays from March to October, making an autumn weekend the ideal window. The tour ends with a tasting of the brewery’s Oud Bruin and Adriaen Brouwer ales, named after the Oudenaarde-born painter.

Brouwerij Liefmans

Brouwerij Liefmans has been brewing on the banks of the Scheldt since the seventeenth century and is known for its Kriek-Brut, a cherry beer matured for eighteen months that drinks particularly well on a cool autumn evening. Tours can be booked in advance. Beyond the two breweries, excellent local beer is available all over town, from the Peloton café at the Tour of Flanders Centre to the brasseries on the market square.

Day Trips from Oudenaarde

Gent

Ghent is around 30 kilometres away and one of the best autumn day trips in Belgium. The canal-side architecture, Gravensteen castle, and medieval towers give you a full day without trying, and the city is noticeably quieter than in summer. Easy to reach by car or train, it makes for a very satisfying contrast with a morning spent in the Flemish Ardennes countryside.

The Hills and Villages

For a slower day, the villages of Horebeke, Maarkedal, and Kluisbergen are at their most beautiful when the leaves are turning. This is a corner of Belgium that most visitors never find, and the quiet country cafés along the way are exactly the kind of unhurried stop that autumn afternoons call for.

Your Autumn Base

Leopold Hotel Oudenaarde is right in the centre of town, with the market square, MOU Museum, Tour of Flanders Centre, and the Scheldt riverside all within easy walking distance. Secure bike storage, a washing area, and an e-bike charging station take care of the practical side, and the Be Twisted brasserie is an excellent place to come back to after a day on the hills. Our best rates are always available when you book directly on our website.

Autumn in Oudenaarde is quieter than summer, warmer in spirit than winter, and full of exactly the kind of experiences that make a weekend break in Belgium worth planning properly. Book your stay at Leopold Hotel Oudenaarde today.