Aarschot Travel Guide

 JosM Says:  In the 17th century Aarschot regained some of its wealth. Money for redecoration of the church interiors became available. The exuberant baroque became prominent. In 1893 Leonardus Drijvers built a large neo-romantic organ with 36 stops. This enormous organ found a place... 

 JosM Says:  Statue by Tony-Luc Blickx of Father Raskin who was decapitated in Dortmund during WW II (Oct.18, 1943) for being a member of a resistance group.His espionage group was founded in the summer of 1940. Raskin's nickname was Leopold Vindictive. He made sketches of the... 

 JosM Says:  This impressive Gothic building was constructed between 1337 and 1450. The choir and the windows that reach up to the ceiling are a design from the French architect Jacob Piccart. The names of his successors are not known. For the construction of the church and the tower 3... 

 JosM Says:  Each year, the evening of August 15th, the city says thanks to Saint-Rochus for saving the city from the plague. On this evening all public illumination is switched off and replaced by candlelight. In the centre of the city the streets and houses and public buildings are... 

 JosM Says:  De lach (The Laughter) - statue by Roland Rens at the site of the cultural center Gasthuis. A drawing of the statue serves as symbol for the cultural center. 

 shokudo Says:  Super eten voor een goede prijs en goede cava! Zeker een aanrader! Ate here several times. Do know what to get, get the 'boat'. Various sushi's and sashimi's served on a boat. Good choice. Don't forget the seaweed salad. Fresh and crispy. A boat with 48 pieces cost you €... 

 JosM Says:  Comfortable cafe, ideal for a stop and drink, where great snacks are served. The dishes are Spanish/Argentine during the one week and Italian style during the other (as the managers have different tastes, they swith the menus weekly). The menu can be read from a blackboard... 

 Taffi Says:  This bar always fills up fast and is especially popular with the over 30s. Good music and nice atmosphere + friendly staff. The name actually means "heads or tails".The food is excellent but pricy. Casual 

 JosM Says:  Each year, on the 3rd sunday before Eastern, the Gilde der Kasseistampers (Guild of the cobble hammerers) organizes a cortege. 

 JosM Says:  The Kasseistamper (Cobble hammerer) is as well the symbol as the nickname for the Aarschottenaars (inhabitants of Aarschot).In the 19th century the city guards walked along the streets to protect the inhabitants from thieves and robbers. On cold evenings these guards... 

 JosM Says:  The statue was created by students of the Aarschot Academy of Fine Arts, supervised by Roland Rens.Well-kown in Flanders is a broadcasting of Echo, in which, unvoluntary, some Aarschot city workers were the main characters. They were filmed while they were repairing a road... 

 JosM Says:  According to legend, St-Roche was born around 1295 in Montpellier (South of France). After his wealthy parents had died he gave away all his possessions and went on a pilgrimage to Rome. During this pilgrimage he took care of pestilent patients and healed them by praying and... 

 Taffi Says:  People who work for the local council have the reputation of being notoriously lazy. In the eighties a number of labourers from Aarschot were caught on hidden camera whilst "repairing" the pavement. It became such a classic scene that a group of statues was made to... 

 Taffi Says:  Aarschot has an "uptown", its hilly south-eastern area, but this used to be a very poor area. Now it is being redeveloped and it is fast becoming a trendy place to live. Nice place to walk.