Diepenveen, Wijhe, Olst

The IJssel used to mean a lot to the villages and towns along this river. Deventer, for example, was the first Hanseatic city, thanks to its favourable location on the water. But the villages around it were also founded and mentioned in ancient writings as early as the ninth and tenth centuries.

Olst and Wijhe are the oldest villages, both of which celebrated their millennial in the twentieth century. That is why you will find many beautiful old buildings in the villages, some of which have been designated national or municipal monuments.
Diepenveen was established a lot later, around 1841. The village was built around the remains of the Women's Convent from the year 1400. This convent was the first convent where women lived according to the guidelines of the Modern Devotion. Now a Trappist monastery has stood in Diepenveen since 1890: Sion Abbey.

A number of castles and manor houses can still be found in this region. Owning a manor house used to be the entrance to a seat in the Overijssel Knighthood. During this cycle route, you will come across some of them. The beautiful estates, monuments and of course the beautiful IJsselstreek will make you marvel at the beauty of this area.