Walking and cycling in and around Burg-Reuland
We put on our walking shoes and go for a walk together around Burg-Reuland, a German-speaking municipality in the province of Liège. A stone's throw from the campsite, we reach a hill and a dense forest. An impressive view awaits us at the top. “I'm nineteen years old and I've been coming here all my life,” says Céline. “Even if you've seen it a hundred times, you never tire of this place.”
Take it from this teenager: Burg-Reuland is the ideal place for walking and cycling. “The Vennbahn – a cycle path that follows an old railway line – runs through this region, for example,” she notes. The Vennbahn is part of the RAVeL system, the Réseau Autonome des Voies Lentes (the autonomous network of slow (i.e. non-motorised paths). Its course connects three countries: Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg.
You can use these RAVeL routes to reach a host of beautiful tourist attractions – the ruined castle of Burg-Reuland, for example, home to a grand noble family until the beginning of the 14th century. “We have visited the castle a few times,” says Margriet. “If you go by car, I would recommend parking on the edge of the village. Visiting the village is all part of the experience.”
To the south of Burg-Reuland, the RAVeL routes follow the borders where Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg meet in a triangle. This is the location of the Europe Monument, a memorial to the founders of the European Union.
“If the weather is bad, or if you don't like walking and cycling, you can always find other things to do,” adds Céline. “There are so many museums to discover. Another hot tip is the Eastbelgium Action & Fun Center. There you can go karting and bowling – and much more.”