Zottegem is a small town about 25 kilometres south of Ghent in East Flanders, at the northern edge of the Flemish Ardennes — the rolling hills that make this part of Belgium a favourite with road cyclists. The spring classics pass through here, and the surrounding lanes are excellent for riding year-round.
The town is historically associated with the Counts of Egmont. Egmont Castle (now used for municipal functions) sits in a park on the edge of the centre, and a small Egmont Museum in the old town hall on the main square covers the family's story. The bronze Statue of Egmont on that square is Zottegem's signature monument, and the rebel count is buried in the crypt of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw church a few steps away. The main square has a pleasant if quiet atmosphere, with a few cafes and a weekly market. Zottegem is not a destination in itself, but if you are cycling or driving through the Flemish Ardennes, it makes a good stopping point.