Fable Route

A 15-kilometer bicycle route through De Maasheggen

At one time the Romans passed through the Meuse hedgerow landscape. A famous Roman of that time was Phaedrus, a renowned poet. He wrote fables; stories in which animals are depicted as people and always with a wise lesson.
He also adapted the fables of the Greek poet Aesopus. During their march through the Maasheggen, Roman legionaries passed the fables to each other. Perhaps when they saw the fleeing animals among the hawthorn hedges they thought they were seeing the main characters from the fables of their famous compatriot.

Do you see them, too?

Meet these adventurous animals and their adventures in the Maasheggengebied during a 15-kilometer bike ride. Along the way, stop at one of the route posts and read or listen to the contemporary fables attributed to De Maasheggen by writer Geurt Franzen from Boxmeer. He also narrated the fables. With music by fellow villager Bart-Jan Baartmans.

The fables

You can read and listen to the fables before you get on your bike. Or listen back afterwards, of course.

1. The fox and the tail
2. The frog and the cow
3. The hare and the hedgehog
4. The donkey and the ox
5. The cricket and the ant
6. The robin
7. The badger and the pig
8. The fox and the stork
9. The crow and the fox
10. The heron and the fish
11. The bee and the sting
12. The mill mouse and the field mouse
13. The wren
14. The pigeon and the ant
15. The pumpkin and the acorn