elevated 360° pathway lets you cycle through the trees in belgium

a new cycling and walking experience stilted 10 meters (32 feet) above ground and weaving through the treetops has opened within the bosland forest, in the belgian province of limburg. ‘cycling through the trees’ forms a gradually-inclined path that allows visitors to ride along a 100-meter (328 feet) diameter double circle that offers 360° views of the surrounding landscape. the bridge is elevated on a network of columns made from weathered steel, mimicking the tactility and form of the fir tree trunks that encompass it, thus helping the entire structure seamlessly blend into its environment. meanwhile, at the start of the path, visitors can relax and take in views from the information pavilion, which is made from stacked recycled logs.

all images © toerisme limburg

‘cycling through the trees’, a project by visit limburg, has been designed by pieter daenen — landscape architect of burolandschap — in collaboration with architects de gregorio & partners. the innovative experience allows cyclists and adventurers to enjoy the natural landscape along the limburg cycle route network in a totally unique way.

the design team’s attention to, and respect for the existing flora and fauna was key to both the design of the cycle bridge and its construction within the forest, which largely consists of coniferous trees. these trees were planted in the early 1900s to produce wood for the mining industry. however, the closure of the mines meant the trees were never felled, thus restricting the structural development of the forest. ‘cycling through the trees’ alleviates the situation by allowing indigenous trees to have more light and space to grow, ensuring that the forest resources are balanced.

the project forms part of ‘cycling synergy’, visit limburg’s vision to ‘build the cycle network of the future’. in 2016, ‘cycling through water’ opened in bokrijk, and ‘cycling through the heathland’ in the hoge kempen national park is due to open next year. see more about ‘cycling through water’ — which was presented as part of the second edition of the bicycle architecture biennale — on designboom here.

project info:

client: toerisme limburg
design and ecological supervision: burolandschap
architect: de gregorio & partners
contractor construction: smulders
photography: toerisme limburg
financial support provided by: LSM; the municipality of hechtel-eksel; visitflanders; the province of limburg
developed in close co-operation with: bosland; the agency for nature and forests