Paddestraat
50°31′30″N 3°27′43″E / 50.5249°N 3.4619°E
The Paddestraat (English: Toad Street) is a 2.3 km long cobbled road in the municipality of Zottegem, in East Flanders, Belgium. The road is a regular location of the springtime cycling classics in Flanders. In 1995, the cobbled road of the Paddestraat was classified as a protected monument by the Flemish government.[1]
Characteristics[edit]
The road is situated entirely in Zottegem. The cobbled part starts at the bridge over the Zwalm, a small river at 18 m altitude, on the border between Zwalm and Zottegem. It runs northeasterly towards the Roman Square in Velzeke, a part of Zottegem, at 50 m altitude. Most altitude gain happens in the first 800 m, before flattening out in the latter 1.500 m, totalling ca. 2.350 m of cobbled surface.
The road dates back to Roman times, when it was a part of the historic road from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Cologne.[1] An archeological museum, the archaeological museum of Velzeke, is situated at the northeasterly entrance of the Paddestraat.[2] Some important archeological findings from Gallo-Roman culture, including the bronze Venus of Velzeke, were made at the site.[2] The Dutch name of the road (English: Toad Street) is taken from the common toad, which are found in large number at the site near the river during mating season.
Cycling[edit]
The site is best known from cycling, as it is a regular feature in the Tour of Flanders. The Paddestraat was first included in the course in 1973, and has been a fixed location in both the men's and women's race, except for the 1988 event, when the road was under repair, and in 2010 when the parcours took a more southerly course. A monument at the beginning of the street in Velzeke lists the winners of the editions that featured the Paddestraat.[3] The Paddestraat also features occasionally in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Belgium, as well as many junior and U-23 events.
Gallery[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Kasseiweg Paddestraat". onroerenderfgoed.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ a b "De Venus van Velzeke [Venus of Velzeke]". canvas.be (in Dutch). Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ "Photo of Paddestraat monument". 8 December 2019.
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