Jan van Gorp cycling and walking route | Sagas & Legends
Discover The Earthly Paradise from Jan van Gorp at Hilvarenbeek.
Starting point: from your location
Show all 6 photos
A ‘child prodigy’ was born in Hilvarenbeek in the 16th century. It was Johannes Goropius Becanus, also called Jan van Gorp. Jan had a great gift for languages, amazing intuition and vast knowledge of nature. He combined that knowledge with feeling and found… the EARTHLY PARADISE. Read more about Jan’s story here and join us on a trip.
The cycle and walking route starts on the Vrijthof in Hilvarenbeek and is 15,5 km in length. On the way, you can stop at Gasterij De Nieuwe Hoef. Here, you can park your bike and start a 5.5 km walk through the stunning countryside.
Get down and discover
Make your cycling adventure complete en surprise yourself along the route with special products, offers and packages which have this route as their theme.
- Goropius cake from De Nieuwe Hoef.
- Jan van…
A ‘child prodigy’ was born in Hilvarenbeek in the 16th century. It was Johannes Goropius Becanus, also called Jan van Gorp. Jan had a great gift for languages, amazing intuition and vast knowledge of nature. He combined that knowledge with feeling and found… the EARTHLY PARADISE. Read more about Jan’s story here and join us on a trip.
The cycle and walking route starts on the Vrijthof in Hilvarenbeek and is 15,5 km in length. On the way, you can stop at Gasterij De Nieuwe Hoef. Here, you can park your bike and start a 5.5 km walk through the stunning countryside.
Get down and discover
Make your cycling adventure complete en surprise yourself along the route with special products, offers and packages which have this route as their theme.
- Goropius cake from De Nieuwe Hoef.
- Jan van Gorp hulled wheat cake flour from De Molen Doornboom and De Heemtuin.
- ParadICE van Gorp from ZinIn.
Information about this cycle route
This cycle and walking route is 15,5 kilometres long and marked out via the official cycling junction network. Follow the route from one numbered intersection to the next. Arrows point the way between the junctions.
Route hotline
If you find something wrong with the signage or the route, please report it via Meldpunt knooppuntroutes Brabant (Brabant junction route hotline). You can also call 0800-4050050 (free).
Experience exciting regional stories in Brabant
Sagas and legends live on in Brabant. Beautiful routes take you past the most impressive spots where regional stories come to life. Join us on an exploration and experience the story of Jan van Gorp and his Earthly Paradise.
Additional route information
We have more information available about this route.
Download more information-
Routes reporting point
Routes reporting pointIf there is something wrong on the route, report it here.
Sights on this route
Starting point
De Vrijthof
Hilvarenbeek
Navigate to starting point
Saint Peter’s Church
Saint Peter’s Church stems from 990! A tuff stone church was built here at that time. The current (Gothic) church and tower date back to around 1300.
Geboden Linde
The centuries-old linden tree on the Vrijthof has seen everything pass by. From criminals who were tried under its branches to funfair-goers who whir1
Van Gorp Castle
This hunting lodge was also called Van Gorp Castle. The house was built around 1870. The garden in front of the house contains a lovely statue of Di1
Paradise Bridge
In the stunning nature areas of the Gorp en Roovert Estate, you will find ‘paradise bridge’, one of the many references to Jan van Gorp.
Earthly Paradise, the painting (replica)
Earthly Paradise, the painting (replica). A replica of the painting ‘The Earthly Paradise with the Fall of Adam and Eve’ hangs in Gasterij De Nieuwe1
Earthly Paradise, the painting (replica)
Gorp aan de Ley 1
5081NZ Hilvarenbeek
Roovertsche Leij
As a Nature Gate, the eating and drinking venue De Roovertsche Leij is the starting point from which to explore the surrounding countryside.
Roovertse Leij
A small river flows from Belgium into the estate of Gorp and Roovert, meandering entirely naturally through the forest.
Roovertse Bergen with a giant bench
You will find a lovely play forest at the Roovertsedijk. Children can do all kinds of things here: building huts, climbing in trees and simply runnin1
Saint Peter’s Church
Saint Peter’s Church stems from 990! A tuff stone church was built here at that time. The current (Gothic) church and tower date back to around 1300.
Story of the route
- In 1535, Jan is 14 years-old and studying at the Latin School of Hilvarenbeek. That particular day, he learned about the Earthly Paradise: a paradisiacal world, a heaven on earth. On his way back home, he thought, ‘If an Earthly Paradise exists, I want to find it.’ Soon after, Jan saw a lark, the symbol of the connection between heaven and earth. He decided to follow the lark in the hope of finding the Earthly Paradise.
- Jan ran and ran, via the Groot Loo and into the forests of Gorp and Roovert. Jan kept running until he lost his way and the lark. He then arrived at ‘Paradijsburg’ (Paradise Bridge). Here, there was a meandering stream, animals were drinking, and all kinds of things were growing on the banks. ‘Wow, I think I have found it! It is so beautiful here, this must be the Earthly Paradise,’ Jan said to himself out loud.
- Jan started to explore and was amazed by the herbs and seeds that grew there. ‘These are not any old herbs, but herbs which can be used to heal people.’ Until then, he had only read about them. Jan picked some herbs and seeds, and then he saw the lark suddenly re-appear. He decided to continue following the bird and arrived back in the centre of Hilvarenbeek, where the lark flew into the tall church.
- Jan climbed the tower and once he got to the top, he saw the statue of Saint Christopher. The patron saint of travellers was beautifully illuminated by the sun. ‘This must be a sign,’ Jan thought. ‘I must leave Hilvarenbeek and travel if I want to learn more.’
- No sooner said that done. But before Jan left, he planted a seed in the middle of the centre of Hilvarenbeek. ‘This way, no one will forget that I lived here.’ You don’t have to look hard to see the beautiful centuries-old linden tree on the Vrijthof these days.
- 42
- 51
- 38
- 50
- 92
- 68
- 67
- 94
- 93
- 92
- 50
- 08
- 51
- 42
Route features
Do you like this too?
-
Van Gogh NP walking tour Etten-Leur
Van Gogh NP walking tour Etten-Leur
3 hour 30 minutes 14.0 kmWelcome to Etten-Leur. This is the place where Vincent van Gogh started his artistic career in 1881.
-
Van Gogh NP walking tour Tilburg
Van Gogh NP walking tour Tilburg
4 hour 16.0 kmDiscover the area where the young Vincent took drawing lessons.
-
Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Heeswijk-Dinther
Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Heeswijk-Dinther
2 hour 20 minutes 10.4 kmThis 10.4 km circular walk revolves around the Berne Abbey, both literally and figuratively.
-
Van Gogh NP walking tour in Zundert
Van Gogh NP walking tour in Zundert
1 hour 30 minutes 8.0 kmThe extremely varied walking tour (8 km) takes you through Vincent’s birthplace of Zundert.
-
Our Monastery Trail Stage 2 Heeswijk - Uden
Our Monastery Trail Stage 2 Heeswijk - Uden
3 hour 25 minutes 18.5 kmThis walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Heeswijk and Uden. It runs from the Abbey of Berne in Heeswijk to Maria Refugie Abbe...
-
Monastery Walk in De Groote Heide
Monastery Walk in De Groote Heide
2 hour 30 minutes 11.2 kmThis monastery walk will allow you to discover the beautiful countryside around the Achelse Kluis in Hamont-Achel in De Groote Heide heathland.
-
Our Monastery Trail Stage 8 Boekel – Aarle Rixtel
Our Monastery Trail Stage 8 Boekel – Aarle Rixtel
5 hour 22.5 kmThis walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Boekel and Aarle Rixtel. This route takes you from Huize Padua and museum De Kluis i...
-
Liberation route Vught
Liberation route Vught
2 hour 30 minutes 30.0 kmThe route in and around Vught serves to remind us of many life-changing events during the Second World War. One of the blackest pages in local hist...
-
Cycling route: A taste of Van Gogh
Cycling route: A taste of Van Gogh
5 hour 50 minutes 70.0 kmThe Brabant life and landscape formed the basis of the work by Vincent van Gogh. Vincent was born, grew up and painted his first masterpiece in Bra...
-
Van Gogh cycle route Zundert – Northeast
Van Gogh cycle route Zundert – Northeast
4 hour 40 minutes 56.0 kmThis Van Gogh cycle route will introduce you to the six Van Gogh Monuments in Zundert.
