Grenzenlose Fernwanderwege
Venn Trilogy
109km – 6 stages – three worlds
For anyone who loves nature and hiking, the Venn Trilogy is the best way to discover the diversity of East Belgium. Set to open in August 2023, the hiking trail stretches 109 km from the Three-Country Point (B-NL-D) near Kelmis to Bütgenbach. Along the way it passes through three distinctive landscapes of Eastern Belgium: the open meadows and hedgerows in the north, the rugged high moors of the High Fens, and the rugged forest and lake region in the south.
The first section of the hiking route runs through the northern part of East Belgium, from the border triangle to Eupen. We hike through a gentle landscape with a charming rural atmosphere, open pastures and old stone farmhouses. The elevation changes are not particularly steep, and there is a rich cultural heritage to discover.
In the second part, the trail heads uphill into the “Hohes Venn” (high fens) Nature Reserve. An immersive nature experience awaits us along historic hiking trails. After the ascent along the Hill and through the green Hertogenwald Forest, the landscape changes abruptly to the open high moorland of the high fens, characterized by grasses and peat bogs. From the Signal de Botrange, Belgium’s highest point, past the Bayehon waterfall, you reach the Ardennes town of Malmédy.
The third part of the Venn Trilogy leads from Malmédy through the Warche Valley to Reinhardstein Castle. The route continues along the shore of the Robertville Reservoir before ending in Bütgenbach.
The hiking trail is marked in both directions, so you can also easily hike in the opposite direction, from Bütgenbach to the Three-Country Point.
Via Gulia – Göhl River Valley Route
53 km – 5 stages – The Enchanting Stream
A mysterious and enchanting stream flows through this beautiful valley. Can you hear it rushing? Its turbulent waves tell the story of the three borders. Today it is called “the Göhl.” Long ago it was known as Gulia: Gulia the Narrow, Gulia the Deep …
The source of the Göhl is located on the Belgian side in the forest between Köpfchen and Lichtenbusch. As it flows, smaller tributaries soon cause it to swell and turn into a small river after just a few kilometers. This winds its way through the Eupen region, the Herve region, and the Heuvelland.
You can hike the Göhl Valley for over 53 kilometers from its source through Kelmis, Plombières, and Valkenburg to its confluence with the Meuse. Blue-white-blue trail markers with vertical bars show you the way.
More Information:
RAVeL L38 & L39
Greenways for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Riders
The disused railway lines 39/38 are part of the RAVeL network (Réseau Autonome des Voies Lentes – Autonomous Network of Slow Lanes) of the Walloon Region. The name says it all: these routes are independent and dedicated to non-motorised, slow-paced travel. By bicycle, on horseback or on foot, users share the track with mutual respect. Ringing a bell is encouraged, but pedestrians have priority.
Line 38 (RAVeL)
Escape onto Line 38, an old railway line 40 km long, crossing the Pays de Herve and connecting Chênée (Liège) to Plombières. It will enable you to discover and appreciate a wide variety of landscapes, old buildings, pretty villages, local shops and much more. It has become one of the most beautiful greenways in Belgium.
Line 39 (Pré-RAVeL)
Line 39 is also a former railway line, it is Pre-RAVeL, located on the section from Gemmenich (Trois Bornes) to Welkendraedt via Plombières and Montzen. In Moresnet a junction leads to La Calamine.
In Plombières, near the mining site, Line 38 and Line 39 meet.Les sentiers de Grande Randonnée (Long Distance Hiking Trails)– GR
Through Herve and Eupen Regions and on to Flanders
Grande Randonnée / Grote Routepaden / (GR) is the name given to long-distance hiking trails in Belgium and France. Two GR trails pass through the three-border area.
GR 563 “Tour du Pays de Herve,” GR 563 “Tour du Pays de Herve”, or Herve Country Tour, is a 159-kilometer loop trail with various route options between Eupen and Visé. The trail is marked in yellow and red.
GR 128 “Vlaanderenroute Oost”, or East Flanders Route, stretches 680 kilometers from Aachen through Maastricht, Leuven, and Ghent to the French coast at Wissant. The trail is marked in white and red.
Eifelsteig
313 Km – 15 Stages – Eifel Highlights
One of Germany’s most popular long-distance hiking trails, the Eifelsteig, begins in the historic town of Kornelimünster.
Spanning approximately 313 kilometers, it winds its way from Aachen to Trier in 15 diverse stages—through forests, across plateaus, and past cliffs, streams, maars, and volcanoes. “Where rock and water accompany you” is the guiding principle of this trail, and the full diversity of the Eifel unfolds step by step.
In the border triangle region, Kornelimünster beckons at the start with the very special atmosphere of a lively old pilgrimage town. Visit the charming historic market square, the Provost Church of St. Cornelius, and the Kunsthaus North Rhine Westphalia, a modern art exhibition center housed in the former imperial abbey.
On the first leg of the journey southward, the hills are still gentle, and we follow small river valleys upstream to their source in the High Fens, Europe’s largest remaining intact raised bog.
You can also start your hiking trip in Aachen city centre, via the signposted access path to the Eifelsteig. This leads you along attractive park and forest paths seamlessly, from the city to Kornelimünster and the Eifel Hills.
The Way of St. James
From the Border Region to the South
Interest in the Way of St. James is growing, and more and more regions are making efforts to research the centuries-old routes and mark them as long-distance trails with the scallop shell symbol. This is also the case in the European Meuse-Rhine region, where there are many pilgrimage routes that often trace their origins back to ancient military and trade routes. Aachen has always been—and remains—a major gathering place for pilgrims.
Three different routes of the Way of St. James converge here. Coming from Wuppertal, the route leads through Cologne and Kornelimünster to Aachen Cathedral. Heading west, pilgrims can choose between two routes: the Belgian route, which runs via the Moresnet Pilgrimage Trail, continuing on to Liège, Namur, Dinant, and Bruly (F); or the Dutch route, which goes from Aachen over the Schneeberg Hill toward Maastricht. The trail markers in Germany and the Netherlands feature a yellow shell symbol on a blue background. In Belgium they feature a red shell symbol on a white background.
Route Guidebooks with Maps
- German-Dutch Route: Landschaftsverband Rheinland / Stichting Pelgrimswegen naar St. Jacob (Hrsg.): Jakobswege. Wege der Jakobspilger zwischen Rhein und Maas. Bd. 3. Köln 2004
- German-Belgian Route: Warnsloh, J.: Belgien: Jakobsweg, Via Mosana. OutdoorHandbuch, Bd. 139. Welver 2004
Association Belge des Amis de Saint Jacques de Compostelle (english)