Berthen, village charmant

Nestled in the heart of the Monts de Flandre and close to the Franco-Belgian border its geographical location at the heart of a natural amphitheater (Mont des Cats to the west, Mont de Boeschèpe to the north and Mont Kokereel to the northeast) gives the village a secluded position, yet one that opens out onto the Lys plain towards Saint-Jans-Cappel and Bailleul. Berthen has deep historical roots: traces of human occupation found on the surrounding hills prove that the village has been inhabited for a very long time (prehistoric period) prehistoric period. In fact, these heights served as living quarters for these populations. Although Berthen?s dominant economic activity is agriculture, the village is one of those that have best "resisted" the land consolidation of the second half of the 20th century century. The semi-bocage landscape that characterized 19th-century Flanders is still perceptible. One-fifth of the area is still grassland, offering visitors a very rural landscape. Hiking, mountain biking and horse-riding are all well developed here, and the many footpaths criss-cross the region. The icing on the cake is to discover Berthen and Flanders from the sky, thanks to the hot-air balloon departures from the slopes of Mont des Cats.