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Pleasure tour 12: "The great Vennrunde" Mont Rigi - hiking in East Belgium
02:18
8.69km
80m
Hiking
Welcome to the roof of Belgium. The Signal de Botrange is officially the highest point in the country. A huge high moor stretches around the summit with the High Fens, which is perfect for exciting hikes. After just a few meters you will reach a viewing platform from which you can enjoy a fantastic view of the heath and moorland.
Special landscapes require special measures: As early as the Middle Ages, efforts were being made to find passable routes across the moor, which represented a dangerous and almost insurmountable obstacle for travellers. At that time the idea of building wooden walkways on posts was conceived. Such paths are still used today in order to be able to enter the moor safely and in a way that protects nature. They lead you dry-shod over the moor and ensure that you can fully enjoy the surrounding landscape.
The turning point is at the Baraque Michel, an old inn that for many years has offered shelter and guidance to brave travelers in the barren terrain. Here you can also stop off excellently. The hospitable landlord seems to speak all languages and will happily serve you an invigorating meal. The way back to the Signal de Botrange is again characterized by the Venn with its rich microcosm of rare plant species.
by Ostbelgien
Last updated: June 12, 2024
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
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354 m
View of the High Fens from the Signal de Botrange
Highlight • Viewpoint
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Tip by
4.52 km
Baraque Michel
Highlight • Mountain Hut
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Tip by
8.63 km
Baltia Hill – Highest Point of Belgium
Highlight • Summit
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Tip by
8.69 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
5.05 km
3.38 km
230 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
4.84 km
2.26 km
1.25 km
209 m
103 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
Highest point (690 m)
Lowest point (630 m)
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Weather
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Thursday 21 May
23°C
9°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h
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This route was planned by komoot.
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Trail Reviews
This time the whole group was in the Venn. It was quite interesting, but in the long run the walking on the wooden walkways is boring. The view over the huge area of the Venn was impressive, though.
An all time classic at any season of the year. The high Venn is a place to disconnect and enjoy tranquility in pure nature. A place which is quite unique from its topography in Europe.
The tour started out very well, with beautiful views of the High Fens, but then it took me too much time through the forest and overgrown paths, and I no longer had a view of the High Fens. There are more beautiful paths.
Cool and sunny, Baraque Michel is permanently closed
📖 More about the tour in the blog: https://www.photohikers.de/post/photohike-mont-rigi-stege-ins-hohe-venn
It's a shame that the weather changed again this morning and we were missing the sun, then the round would have been so nice again. But we still really enjoyed it. Starting from the Signal de Botrange, we hiked to the viewing platform of the Walloon Fens, from where you can enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the heath and moor landscape. We then follow the path to the left in front of the platform that winds along the fen plain and use the wooden footbridges that float on posts above the moor. At Les Wez, we are in the middle of nowhere, in the heart of the nature reserve. What immense expanses. Beautiful landscape. The return route then takes place via the Poleur Fens, where traces of human activity from a hundred years ago are still visible today. The tour of discovery then continues at Neur Lowé, a microcosm within itself that houses all plant species from the High Fens plateau. Text: Author East Belgium Tourism Agency Link to Youtube: https://youtu.be/KOKETmXaO28
A nice final walk before heading home. Not too many footbridges through the Fens, but you're still alone early in the morning and hardly meet anyone else.
Comments
May 13, 2022
Welcome to the roof of Belgium. The Signal de Botrange is officially the highest point in the country. A huge high moor stretches around the summit with the High Fens, which is perfect for exciting hikes. After just a few meters you will reach a viewing platform from which you can enjoy a fantastic view
Translated by Google •
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