Ovelo - Along the Weser through the Hertogenwald

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Ovelo - Along the Weser through the Hertogenwald

Walking · Open

Photo: eupen wesertalsperre 03 © ostbelgien.eu dominik ketz

Photo: D. Ketz

Photo: eupen 37550762

St. Joseph Church Eupen

Photo: Dominik Ketz

Photo: D. Ketz

Photo: P. Paquay

Raeren Castle

Photo: Dominik Ketz

Photo: raeren 37550764

Photo: raeren 37550767

Stiegel Raeren

Photo: Pierre Pauquay SPRL Cernix

Raeren Castle

Photo: Dominik Ketz

Photo: st. nikolaus parish church eupen 18954418

Photo: wesertalsperre eupen 17733377

Photo: wesertalsperre eupen 16418393

Photo: weser dam eupen 21987459

Photo: vennbahn raeren station 29117630

Description

This cycle path runs between the Belgian town of Eupen and the German town of Roetgen. For 9 km you travel on the Vennbahn cycle path. For well over three quarters of the route you are surrounded by the deciduous forests in the High Fens-Eifel Nature Park.

Eupen, located on the Weser and at the edge of the Hertogenwald, is today the capital of the German-speaking community of Belgium. The city grew in the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to the particularly soft, pure water from the High Fens. The fen water proved very suitable for washing wool (fabric). Dozens of weavers settled, built their weaving studios and warehouses, and the city experienced an unprecedented economic boom in a very short time. Even today, stately mansions of wealthy cloth merchants are ubiquitous throughout the city. So this is where your cycle route starts. The path to Raeren leads via the “Promenade,” a foot and cycle path, up to Kettenis, then through fields and meadows on quiet paths to the potter’s village. In Raeren, there is a remarkable medieval water castle flanked by historic houses.

Soon after, you reach the Vennbahn, which takes you into an uninhabited forest area. The former railway line leads in beautiful curves through the huge Raeren forest to German Roetgen. Here you leave the Vennbahn and cycle through the Hertogenwald along the Weser to its reservoir. From there, it heads downstream back to Eupen, making a loop via Membach back to the starting point.

Tip: From the terrace of the visitor centre at the Weser reservoir, you have a view of this 126-hectare drinking water reservoir containing the purest water from the peat bogs.

Follow the cycle junction points: > 88 > 32 > 33 > 45 > 30 > 60 > 29 > 48 > 61 > 9 > 11 > 67 > 46 > 43 > 42 > 41 > 2 > 40 > 58 > 38 > 35 > 82 > 34 > 88

Details

Difficulty Medium
Physical condition
Experience
Landscape
Highest point 421 m
Lowest point 235 m
Best period for this activity

January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December

Safety instructions

After KP58, follow a steep dirt road with loose gravel. Here you should dismount.

From early October, driven hunts take place. The dates and hunting zones can be viewed in the route planner www.ostbelgien.eu/de/fahrrad/radroutenplaner.

Recommended equipment

Helmet
Sportswear
Sturdy footwear
Well-maintained bicycle
Water bottle
Sunglasses
Rain protection

Information and additional links

East Belgium Tourist Agency npo

Hauptstraße 54

4780 St. Vith

+32 80 22 76 64

[email protected]

www.ostbelgien.eu

BE 0715 454 578 - RJP/RPM Eupen

Contact details

DD 50.626788,6.027417

Departure

At Rotenbergplatz, just behind house no. 24, cycle into Josephine Koch Park towards 45.

Arrival

At Rotenbergplatz

Itinerary

Follow the cycle junction points: > 88 > 32 > 33 > 45 > 30 > 60 > 29 > 48 > 61 > 9 > 11 > 67 > 46 > 43 > 42 > 41 > 2 > 40 > 58 > 38 > 35 > 82 > 34 > 88

By public transport

www.belgiantrain.be

www.letec.be

To park

<p>Free of charge along Rotenbergplatz</p>

Go by train, car or by bike

Follow the guide!

Difficulty level

Difficulty Medium
Distance 48.3 km
Duration 3.25 h.
Positive altitude difference 423 m
Positive altitude difference 424 m

Circular walks

Difficulty level

CountryBelgium
RegionRégion Wallonne
ProvinceVerviers
DepartmentBaelen

Ovelo - Along the Weser through the Hertogenwald