Nature in widescreen format
At 150 kilometres, the Fens and Lakes Route can boast of being the longest of the three routes. But the round trip can be completed in one day without stress. The starting point is in the French-speaking town of Malmedy. The lively town has recently refurbished its pretty centre. The High Fens, that unreal expanse with its springy peat plains, dark pools, peat bogs and skinny birch forests, is still called " Hautes Fagnes " north of Malmedy. A few kilometres further you cross the language border and find yourself southeast of Eupen, the seat of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, where the unique biotope is called "Hohes Venn". It does not matter which side of the language border you are on, on both sides a carpet of pipe grass, pitrus and purple heather rolls out to the horizon. Nowhere else in East Belgium does the vastness make itself felt better than on the archaically beautiful high plateau of the High Fens. And this is not just any high plateau: at 694 metres, the Signal of Botrange halfway between Malmedy and Eupen is not only the highest point in the High Fens, but also the highest peak in the whole country. Having driven past here, we briefly cross the border to visit our eastern neighbour Germany near Kalterherberg. Further south, reservoirs like Robertville or Bütgenbach invite you to relax by the water. Those who have acquired a taste for it can come back after the round trip to swim, canoe or just relax. A few more roads, a few more remote villages and we cross the language border again. Soon after, we are back in Malmedy.
Suggestion - a shortcut is possible
Between Sourbrodt and Mont, you can shorten the route or split it into two stages of roughly equal length: a northern and a southern loop.
