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Pleasure tour 14 - 9,9 km

Walking ·

Past pastures and meadows with fences, this trail is a journey back in time to the former zinc spar mines in Kelmis.

Between pastures and arable land your gaze falls on the crests of the hills, most of which are covered by woods. Livestock grazes on the meadows in the valleys. Here we meet the Lontzen stream and follow it into Kelmis Forest. At the 'casino pond' we join the course of the Göhl for a while.

The fact that it flowed through one of Europe's largest zinc and lead deposits was a fateful circumstance for the Göhl. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century the mineral resources were mined extensively without any heed being paid to the fauna or flora. Today, the disused mining area has been completely redeveloped and renaturated.

This acknowledged conservation area can be explored on various different hiking paths, with information panels explaining the importance of calamine mining in former times for Kelmis and the country around it. After that, uphill to the Eyneburg and we walk on into a real picture-postcard forest. At dusk we reach Lontzen.

Hiking in the junction system:

Follow the hiking route nodes: 57>99>15>68>53>35>49>87>77>33>99>69>41>65>80>1>18>22>46>99>57

More information: https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/walking/hiking-route-planer 

Hints

Between April and September yellow calamine pansies (viola calaminaria) grow here, an extremely rare species from the genus of the violets.

Difficulty

  • Difficulty Medium
  • Distance 9.9 km
  • Duration 2:37 h.
  • Highest point 76 m
  • Lowest point 78 m
LoopGeological highlightsBotanical highlightsFaunistic highlights

Geographical location

  • Country Belgium
  • Region Région Wallonne
  • Province Verviers
  • Municipality Lontzen

Details

  • Difficulty Medium
  • Stamina
  • Experiential value
  • Landscape
  • Highest point 249 m
  • Lowest point 180 m
Recommended season
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember

Safety advice

Pass unhindered through woods and meadows.

  • Dogs must be kept on a leash.

Recommended equipment

Proper hiking boots. Stop for a bite to eat in Kelmis.

Further information and links

East Belgium Tourist Agency 

Hauptstraße 54

4780 St.Vith

+32 80 22 76 64

www.ostbelgien.eu

info@ostbelgien.eu

Start of the tour

Along the lake towards the castle. From Lontzen, go up Maria-Theresia-Strasse. GPS-Coordinates Kelmis: 50.7121 6.011, Lontzen: 50.6813 6.0068 (188?hm)

Coordinates

  • DD 50.712758 , 6.011147

End of the tour

The Lake (Casinoweiher)

Route

Hiking in the junction system:

Follow the hiking route nodes: 57>99>15>68>53>35>49>87>77>33>99>69>41>65>80>1>18>22>46>99>57

More information: https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/walking/hiking-route-planer 

By public transport

By train: www.belgianrail.de

By bus: www.infotec.be

Please use the route planner.

Parking

Level with the Casinoweiher pond or in the centre of Lontzen.

Arriving by train, car or bicycle

Follow the instructions!

Recommendations by the author

https://www.ostbelgien.eu/de/shop/buchmaterial

Map recommended by the author

Eupener Land & Göhltal - hiking map / IGN - 1:25.000 www.ostbelgien.eu - Webshop