Oh no! In Halle, some animals have escaped from a traveling zoo. They have hidden all over the city in facades, street names, and many other places. Can you find all the animals?
With the ErfgoedApp our guide, we start our search on Halle's Grote Markt. Several animals are already hidden here: the large Elephant, the Pheasant, the Monkey, and the Dog. With the help of the photos in the app, we quickly find the large Elephant on the facade of the restaurant of the same name. The other animals are a little better hidden and we don't find them right away. The Monkey and the Dog in particular are very well hidden. Can you find them right away?
From the Grote Markt, we cannot miss it: the Basilica of Saint Martin in Halle. When we hear that Mr. Pelika is there, we immediately rush off. However, there are so many beautiful things to admire that we forget why we are in the basilica: we are looking for Mr. Pelika! Eventually, we spot him, hidden in a side niche of the building.
Left: 'Mr. Pelika's basilica', seen from the Mariahof © Lowie Bergmans. Right: the interior of St. Martin's Basilica © Lowie Bergmans.
We continue our walk through Halle and encounter several more escaped animals, hidden in street names or buildings. Each animal also tells a fun story about itself and its hiding place. This way, we immediately learn a lot about the history of the city and also get to know the animals that live here better.
The story of the Muis family at the Den AST city archives © Lowie Bergmans; ErfgoedApp.
After a leisurely stroll along the Leide and the Brussels-Charleroi canal, where a few creatures are still hiding, we walk back towards the basilica. In Leeuwenstraat and on Leeuwenplein, we immediately learn more about the traveling zoo and its escaped animals.
If you do happen to lose your way, try to spot the tower of the basilica. It can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, just as Mr. Pelika would want!
Left: the street sign for Leeuwenstraat © Lowie Bergmans. Right: the tower of the basilica, visible above the rooftops of Halle © Lowie Bergmans.
In addition to wildlife, there are also some beautiful buildings to see during the walk: we pass the Paterskerk, which now houses some beautiful works of art. Definitely worth a look!
Left: part of the wall of the Paterkerk Halle © Lowie Bergmans. Right: side of the Paterskerk © Lowie Bergmans.
Via 't Vissestrotje , we end up back at the Grote Markt. Here, we search a second time for the Monkey and Dog, animals we didn't find on our first pass. By looking carefully in the ErfgoedApp , we are lucky enough ErfgoedApp these creatures too, and we can successfully conclude our search after all!
't Vissestrotje in Halle, with a view of the basilica tower © Lowie Bergmans.
Would you like to help search for the escaped animals in Halle? Be sure to take a look at the ErfgoedApp the tour Beestenbende ontsnapt and visit the website of VisitHalle website for more fun activities in the area.