The High Fens (French Hautes Fagnes) is a plateau in East Belgium near the German border, which is largely designed as a raised moor, from which the name is derived: Venn, Fenn (Dutch: Veen) for moor. The High Fens forms the northern transition between Eifel and Ardennes.
places
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- Belgium
- Butgenbach
- Eupen
- Limbourg (Limburg)
- Malmedy
- Raeren
- Robertville (In the Bivelt)
- spa
- Verviers
- Wisdom (Waimes)
- Germany
- Roetgen
- parts of Monschau and Simmerath
- Stolberg OT doubts
- Aachen-Walheim
Other goals
- Botrange, with 694 meters the highest point of the High Fens and Belgium as a whole
background
The High Fens is on average around 500 meters above sea level. The moor and heathland is hardly used economically. However, the area is used for water production and management. In the Venn there are neither limestone basins nor volcanoes, so that the landscape is geologically separated from the neighboring Eifel.
The highest peaks in Belgium are in the Fens, although the 694 m height of the Signal de Botrange is not really impressive. The place Rocherath at 650 m is the highest place in Belgium.
The Rur rises in the Venn and leaves it after approx. 15 km in the direction of the Eifel.
Natural park
The Hohes Venn-Eifel Nature Park is a German-Belgian joint project.
language
- German (Limburg and Ripuarian dialects)
- French (among others in Malmedy)
getting there
Airports
International airports are located outside the region. Are suitable:
Railways and buses
The train stations in Eupen, Welkenraedt, Dolhain-Gileppe in Limbourg and Verviers are suitable for traveling to the High Fens. The German-Belgian euregioAIXpress runs every hour from Aachen to Welkenraedt, Dolhain-Gileppe, Verviers (15–30 minutes) and Spa (1:10 hours). Intercity buses from Oostende – Brugge – Gent – Brussels – Leuven – Liège run every hour to Verviers, Welkenraedt and Eupen. The journey from Brussels to Eupen takes 1:50 hours and from Liège 40 minutes.
Bus line 14 runs every hour from Aachen to Eupen (approx. 30 minutes).
Otherwise, public transport access to the region is poor to very moderate.
Highways
Coming from Germany, you can drive past Aachen on the A44 motorway (Europastraße 40), which continues beyond the border as the Belgian A3 in the direction of Liège / Liège. The connection points Eynatten / Aachen-South or Eupen / Welkenraedt are located on the northern edge of the High Fens. To get to the eastern High Fens, you can take the A44 just before the border at the exit Aachen-Lichtenbusch leave and follow the B 258 directly along the German-Belgian border to Roetgen and Monschau. If your destination is in the west of the High Fens, you can change to the A27 towards Verviers and Malmedy at the Battice junction. Several junctions on this motorway serve the western edge of the plateau. The Belgian national roads N67 (Eupen – Monschau) and N68 (Eupen – Malmedy) lead right across the High Fens.
By bicycle
The very well signposted and mostly paved Vennbahn-Cycle path leads from Aachen over the High Fens (Roetgen, Monschau, Weismes) to Troisvièrges / Ulflingen in the north of Luxembourg (125 km).
The Kylltal cycle path leads from Trier along the Kyll to Losheimergraben on the German-Belgian border (123 km). It then continues as the Belgian RAVeL-Ligne 45 along the southern edge of the High Fens (Bütgenbach, Waimes, Malmedy) to Stavelot and Trois-Ponts (45 km).
The Belgian Rando-Vélo RV4 leads from Liège to Eupen, across the High Fens to Waimes-Sourbrodt and Bütgenbach, and on to Hellenthal-Udenbreth and Dahlem-Frauenkron in Germany (a total of 112 km).
Accessible train stations
- Arrival via Liege: The Belgian part of the High Fens is largely part of the catchment area of the Meuse, so the journey is over Liege more obvious than from train stations in Germany.
- Thalys: The cross-border express train Thalys, which connects Cologne with Liège, Brussels and Paris, enables you to get to Liège in around an hour and a half. Transporting bicycles in Thalys is uncomfortable as bicycles can only be taken apart or folded in a protective cover.
- Belgian IC: Bicycle transport is offered.
- You can also find other train stations at the Meuse choose for the journey to the High Fens. Out Visé it is 30 km to Eupen, rising slightly.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- Moors
- The 6 m high Baltia hill is located next to the Botrange signal and should bring Belgium's highest point over the 700 meter mark.
- The Cross in the Fens near the Reichenstein Monastery at the Viaduct of the Vennbahntrasse and the Eifel Dome Kalterherberg.
activities
hike
- The lonely moor landscape invites you to go hiking. Because of the risk of sinking in, paths have been laid out on wooden walkways. A well-known starting point is the historic hostel 1 Baraque Michel
. Areas of the raised bog are marked as "Protection Zone D" on warning signs and must not be entered. There are more generous rules for zones A, B and C. - There are also some rules to be observed in the forests around the moors. For example, you are only allowed to hike on roads, paths and marked paths in forests. A "cross-country run" is not allowed and will be punished by the forest officials.
- Dogs are generally prohibited in the nature protection zones. They must always be kept on a leash in the woods.
- In the south of the Fens lies 1 Château de Reinhardstein quite idyllic deep in the Warchetal. From here a narrow, stony path leads north-west. The length is given as 13 km. Of course, the castle can also be the destination of a hike from the Fens.
- The GR 56, a feeder for the GR 5, passes the Venn.
Bike tours
- the Venn can be seen on the railway cycle path Vennbahn enjoy.
- there is a network of mostly asphalt farm roads. This has a junction signposting, the use of which, however, requires a map.
- It should be noted that mountain biking is only allowed on paths that could also be driven by a car.
To run
In general, the High Fens is very suitable for jogging, but you should note that there are some climbs.
Every year in May the Vennlauf instead, a fun run through the German-Belgian border area, which allows a fantastic view of the high moor landscape and the blooming cotton grass, especially in good weather.
For the hard-nosed, there is also a trail run in autumn (Trail des Hautes Fagnes).
Bicycle trolleys
- Rail biking in the High Fens - Draisine route with bicycle carts from Monschau-Kalterherberg to Sourbrodt (journey time about 45 minutes). Further information: www.railbike.be
Cross-country skiing
The nature center "Haus Ternell" is located on the Eupen-Monschau road, on the ridge between the Hilltal and the Getzbachtal. In winter it houses a ski rental station and is the starting point for three groomed circular trails as well as a trail connection to Sourbrodt. (Wikipedia)
kitchen
nightlife
security
Much of the Venn is a moor landscape, which should encourage hikers to keep to the paths. In addition, there is a tendency towards rapid fog formation, which is why it is strongly recommended to take a mobile phone with you. Hiking in groups is beneficial.
At the entrances to the moor, you may have to pay attention to raised warning flags. When the red flags are hoisted, entry is prohibited, e.g. due to the risk of fire.
climate
Cool and rainy, sometimes with rapid weather changes, caused by the altitude.
literature
- Hikeline High Fens 1: 35,000: Belgium, Luxembourg, Liège, Liege, Bastogne, Meuse [spiral binding] - see Esterbauer publishing houseISBN 3850005860
