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Welcome to the

VENNTRILOGIE trail

at the heart of Europe. 

 

Thanks to the Interreg V project "RANDO-M", a new trail is being created in East Belgium.

The new premium long-distance hiking trail

The Venntrilogie is a long-distance hiking trail, linking some of the most beautiful landscapes in our region in six stages. The trail was born out of our deep and abiding love of nature. The trail leads you over 109 km through the three distinct natural landscapes of the Fens. 

3 regions - 109 km - 6 daily stages - 1 premium long-distance hiking trail

 

Venntrilogie - The trail

 

Discover 3 regions

in the heart of Europe

The Northern Fens are charming:

 

The forests, the small meadows, the cows with their calves, the picturesque hills and the abundance of light and greenery make the hike a joyful experience. 

The adventure begins at the Three Border Point, located north of Eupen, in a landscape of meadows and hedges. You will go from one to the other thanks to the many stiles that dot the route. Discover a pastoral landscape marked by history, as evidenced by the numerous remains of the past. You can also explore the dense Hertogenwald forest, which leads you to Eupen. 

There are two full-day stages: from the Three Borders to Eynatten (24 km) and from Eynatten to Eupen (18.9 km). 

GPX-Files to download :

 

The High Fens

are truly unspoiled. Hundreds of small paths criss-cross an ancestral territory that has never been inhabited - nature in all its authenticity.  

Two full day stages of pure nature await you between Eupen and Malmedy. The Venntrilogie takes you back to prehistoric times, a no-man's land that is still a mystery today. At the pace of your steps, experience a nature that is sometimes benevolent and sometimes harsh, and live an unforgettable hiking adventure. Discover the historic trails, passing through such hiking highlights as the Helle Valley, the Bayehon Waterfall and the adventurous Trôs-Marets Valley. 

Hike through this unique landscape in two full-day stages: from Eupen to Signal de Botrange (24.8 km) and from Signal de Botrange to Malmedy (19.7 km).

GPX-Files to download :

 

The Southern Fens

are powerful. Where nature meets folklore to the rhythm of the river Warche. Deep forests, ravines and castles give the hike a flavour of adventure. Water is the main theme of these hikes.

From Malmedy, the romantic Warche Valley opens up to you, offering spectacular views and a profound nature experience. From the Warche ridge, plunge into the valley and admire the hidden castle of Reinhardstein. Continuing up the Warche and along the Robertville Lake, you will arrive at the end of the Venntrilogie, the friendly village of Butgenbach. 

The route has two full-day stages: from Malmedy to Robertville (13 km) and from Robertville to Butgenbach (8.8 km).

GPX-Files to download :

 

Download the VENNTRILOGIE brochure here:

On our magnificent Venntrilogie you will discover more than just a magnificent display of nature. Everywhere in East Belgium you will find the multi-faceted history of a continent that is perhaps also the history of the region itself. 

Welcome to the Venntrilogie in the heart of Europe - we wish you a lot of fun on your hike!

Download the official Venntrilogie Hiking Guide now, or pick up a free physical copy at tourist information offices along the trail.

VENNTRILOGIE : Hiking tours

6 jours - Au départ d'Eupen

74- AR40090

6 jours - Au départ d'Aix la Chapelle

Frequently asked questions about the VENNTRILOGIE.

Here you will find a collection of questions & answers about the VENNTRILOGIE premium long-distance hiking trail. If your question is not answered here, please do not hesitate to send us an , we will be happy to help!

Hiking on the VENNTRILOGIE

 

The Venntrilogie is already available on the outdoor-platforms Komoot and Outdooractive. You can find the GPX track at the top of this page.

The Venntrilogie has been signposted with good care and indicate clearly which way to go. The signs give lots of information in an accessible way and you will find overviews of the most important information on the major crossings (Which direction to take next, how many kilometres are left until the end of the stage and which sight-seeing attractions are close-by).

Our official hiking guide is available as a free download. You can also pick up a physical copy from one of the tourist information points in East Belgium.

No, the Venntrilogie is signposted in both directions. The hiking guide will however describe the trail from the Three Border Point to Bütgenbach.

The most favourable time slot is from begin April to end October. Please be aware of the nesting season in spring and the hunting season from October to December. Please find the most recent information on closed paths here: www.ostbelgien.eu/en/useful-information-and-travel-advice

Dogs are allowed on 5 out of the 6 stages if they are on a leash. Their company is prohibited on the stage through the nature reserve of the High Fens from Grand Bongard to Botrange, but an alternative route is signposted in situ and allows dog-owners to be accompanied by their beloved pets (on a leash).

The difficulty level varies from stage to stage. In general, all stages are accessible to hikers with an average fitness level and appropriate hiking gear. The stages 3, 4 and 5 lead you through more technical sections, which will require your attention and are more challenging than the rest of the trail.

You can physically prepare for the hike with carrying a heavy backpack on 20 km-hikes for a few days.

The trail is composed of many winding and uneven paths. Accordingly, we would advise not to take a pram on the hike. If you want to take children on your hike on the Venntrilogie, please make sure they have hiking experience and will be able to walk the planned distance. The East Belgium Tourist Agency offers several Kids on Tour-hiking tours that are adapted to the children’s needs: www.ostbelgien.eu/en/walking/walking-with-kids

Even if some parts of the Venntrilogie are accessible to cyclists, we strongly advise against cycling on the Venntrilogie, as the trail was developed for hikers. Cyclists will rather enjoy the Vennbahn cycling route or the extensive cycling route network. Further information on cycling routes: www.ostbelgien.eu/en/cycling

We advise you to inform your beloved ones when you will hike which part of the trail. Moreover, make sure to download the App 112 before starting your hike: https://www.112.be/fr/app. This app facilitates the contact with the first helpers and allows them to find your current location immediately. Two hospitals are in the vicinity of the Venntrilogie: the St. Nikolaus-Hospital Eupen and the Centre Hospitalier Reine Astrid in Malmedy. There are pharmacies in most cities and villages along the Venntrilogie trail.

No, there is not always phone signal available. The Venntrilogie leads through several spots such as the High Fens that lack phone signal coverage. Accordingly, we advise you to make sure that you also have access to important information offline.

Preparation for my VENNTRILOGIE-hike

  • With the bus : At the bus stop Bütgenbach Kreuzung, take the bus E23 to Eupen Bahnhof. Then choose the bus to Gemmenich Frontière. Once you arrive here, there are only 1.5 km left to the start of the hike. There will be signposts that indicate the footpath to the starting point. Here is a Google Maps description of this path : https://goo.gl/maps/RLnUyXkgWB8nkTfR6
  • With a taxi : Find a list of regional taxi services here
  • Carpooling : further information by the NPO Fahr Mit : https://fahrmit.be/mobilitaetsloesungen/auto/mitfahrbank-ostbelgien (site only available in german)

A Venntrilogie partnership is planned with the accommodations that are situated along the trail. With the help of this partnership, you will be able to plan your hike more easily on our website and to book additional services such as luggage transfer and taxi rides.

Find the list of our partners here: www.ostbelgien.eu/en/stay/all-accomodation

Yes, absolutely. There are several camping sites along the trail that will enable you to hike the Venntrilogie stages and sleep in your tent on camp sites. Here is the list of the camping sites that are affiliated with the East Belgium Tourist Agency: https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/stay/all-accomodation?theme=105

In the immediate vicinity of Eupen and the Venntrilogie, there is also the bivouac site Soor. All the information on the reservation can be found here: https://botrange.be/bivouacs/zone-c-la-soor/

Moreover, the platform ww.welcometomygarden.be offers slow travellers the possibility to rent a private garden or land property.

Please note that wild camping is prohibited in Belgium.

There are restaurants near each starting or ending point of a stage. On situ, pay attention to the signposting. Signs will guide your way to restaurants.

If well prepared, you will be able to fully savour your Venntrilogie experience. It is both a versatile and demanding trail. This is why we advise you to wear good hiking shoes and socks. Always take enough food and water for the whole day. This is especially important for the 3rd and 4th stages. Please note that the water in the ponds and rivers along the route is no drinking water. Moreover, taking a first aid kit may be useful in case of trouble.

There are shelters on all stages of the Venntrilogie.

Besides the bus lines between Bütgenbach and the three border point, there are numerous other ways to reach the trail. The train stations of Eupen and Verviers can be reached by IC train from the stations of Liège-Guillemins, Brussels Midi and Gent-Sint-Pieters in Belgium.

East Belgium also has a network of bus routes. We recommend that you plan your bus journey in advance and check the timetables. Villages with bus stops are indicated on the signposting of the Venntrilogie.

How to give feedback on the VENNTRILOGIE

Your feedback helps us to continuously improve the quality of the Venntrilogie. Feel free to send your comments to the following e-mail-address: . Please make sure to add the exact location where you discovered a problem and send us a picture if possible.

Your comments are a great help in maintaining the quality of the Venntrilogie.

Should you want to get more involved, you can volunteer to help us maintain the trails. If you want to join our maintenance team, please contact us on .

The Interreg V-A project « RANDO-M »

As part of the Interreg project « RANDO-M », the East Belgium Tourist Agency (EBTA) was commissioned with the planning and development of the Venntrilogie.

Within the framework of the Interreg V-A Euregio Meuse-Rhine programme, the « RANDO-M » project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union with € 803,013.44. The EMR Interreg project „Eifel-Ardennen, ein unbegrenzter Erlebnisraum zum Radfahren und Wandern“ aims to improve the attractiveness of the tourism offers and the infrastructure in the Eifel-Ardennes region and thus to increase the value chain. The project focuses on developing cross-border offers for hikers and cyclists in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine and on connecting tourism service providers. In addition to the lead partner, the East Belgium Tourist Agency, two other partners are involved in the project: the Tourist Board of the Province of Liège and Eifel Tourismus (ET) GmbH. The project started on 1.9.2018 and ends on 31.08.2023.