Animal adventures in the Maasheggen

At some point in time, the Romans passed through the Maasheggen countryside. It was then that Phaedrus, a renowned poet, wrote fables – stories in which animals are presented as people and where a wise lesson is often to be found. He also versified the fables of the Greek poet Aesop. During their journey through the Maasheggen, Roman legionnaires passed the fables on to one another. When seeing animals fleeing between the hedgerows, perhaps they thought they saw a main character from one of those fables by their famous fellow-countryman. Can you see them too? Get to know these adventurous animals and their experiences in the Maasheggen.

Fables
Fifteen modern fables are told along the fifteen kilometre long cycle route through the UNESCO area De Maasheggen and the nature reserve De Vilt. The key players in all of the fables are animals and plants that also appear in the natural surroundings of Oeffelt and Beugen. Would you like to hear them? 
Panels with a QR code are scattered along the route. Scan the QR code with the camera on your mobile phone and listen to the exciting, amusing fables that are educational as well. The fables have been revised and recorded by author Geurt Franzen from Boxmeer. If you would prefer to download the fables beforehand, this can also be done.

De Vilt nature reserve
De Vilt nature reserve, 140 hectares in size, is the property of Brabants Landschap and is located between the villages Beugen and Oeffelt. This natural pearl contains two large watery areas, De Beugense Vilt and De Oeffeltse Vilt, that are surrounded by flowery grasslands, marshlands, hedges and woods. De Vilt is one of the forty places designated by the region that tell the story of the origin of North Brabant. De Vilt is a former bend in the Maas that became silted up over time. The area was formed around fifteen thousand years ago. 
Look for more visiting tips, cycle routes and walking tours, places to rest up and overnight addresses in the Land van Cuijk at Visit Land van Cuijk.

Cycle junctions
Follow the route from junction to junction using the familiar cycle junction signs. Simply cycle from number to number. The signs that are on the side of the road give the numbers of the junctions. Arrows indicate the direction of the number you have chosen. The route can be followed in both directions and started at any location.