RAVeL 5 Ligne 38 - RAVeL 5 Ligne 38

The Line 38 is a Railway cycle path through the eastern Walloniaand meanders from Liege through the Herver Land (Pays de Herve) to almost the German border near Hombourg.

Route profile

Country road with wooden posts that force drivers to brake
  • Length: 38 km
  • Signposting: good on the route, but the connections are never properly signposted. The route is practically hiding.
  • Slopes: the route has a very moderate gradient with a maximum gradient of 2.5%
  • Path condition: Very good until shortly before Aubel (first concreted, then asphalted), then getting worse. At the end mostly damp forest road.
  • Traffic load: largely free of traffic
  • Suitable bike: simple, roadworthy everyday bike is sufficient.
  • Family suitability: - well suited for families and seniors
  • Inline suitability: partially (where asphalt or concrete)
Signposted exit of the village, there is a shortage of useful signposts

background

The route is part of the RAVeL, the network for slow traffic (hikers, riders and cyclists). The name of the former railway line 38 ("Ligne 38") was added. Passenger traffic was stopped as early as 1957, freight traffic was stopped in 1986 and the tracks were removed in 1992. The railway line connected Chênée and Plombières and even had a 134 m long tunnel behind Hombourg ("Tunnel de la Laschet"). The tunnel ceiling was destroyed in 1940, so that the tunnel now represents a cut. There are concrete plans to improve and lengthen the whole route (in 2017 already under construction in part), and the "tunnel" will also be part of the route.

The route forms part of the new Walloon Route 2 La Veloroute de la Bière ("Route of Beer") and des EuroVelo 3. These routes cross Wallonia from west to east and lead to Aachen. The numbering 5 is currently no longer used

The signposting as a bridle path not only provides manure, but also a surprise when you come across a wagon.

getting there

With public transport

To Liege it is possible to travel by train. The Chênée regional train station is near the starting point.Montzenwhich, like Hombourg, belongs to Bleyberg, has a train station, but only serves goods traffic.

By bicycle

In the street

Numerous parking spaces along the way.

  • Well located car park in Aubel next to the bike path.
  • In Hombourg there is the "Rue de la Station" car park and probably another one.
  • In Chaudfontaine there is also a parking lot in the area of ​​the straight continuation.

Route description with sights

The route leads through the northern foothills of the Ardennes and is a bit hilly. The route is quite high and has some bridges.

For Germans, we recommend starting in the village of Hombourg, as parking is easy there and the cycle path is comparatively easy to find. The kilometering with plastic blocks on masts (see also photo) begins in Chaudfontaine.

Fort Battice next to bike path
  • Chaudfontaine - the start (at the top of a mountain) is very difficult to find
  • Liege - You don't get much of the city.
  • Beyne
  • Fléron - you cycle briefly through the small town. There is a "Friture" right on the way.
  • Micheroux - this is where the grit begins
  • Herve - the former train station has been nicely developed as a restaurant.
Locomotive and bike path in the center of Aubel
  • Battice (km 23) - here is the fortress Fort Batticethat the Belgians built to protect against the Germans. It is located on the Herver Plateau (altitude 333 above sea level) and thus at the highest point of the route.
  • Thimister
  • Clermont-sur-Berwinne
  • Aubel (km 33) - has an old locomotive, a parking lot and a garden bar right on the way. The route is now getting worse and worse. Behind the place comes a higher viaduct that offers a view of the hilly landscape.
  • Hombourg - former train station La Gare Hombourg with a restaurant, sleeping car and a small railway museum. The small brasserie Grain d'Orge on Rue Laschet brews some house beers that you can try at the end. [1]

Unofficial (planned) sequel:

  • Plombières (Bleyberg) - here the railway line 38 ends and meets the 39. Between Hombourg and Plombières, however, there is a longer interruption of the cycle path and the quality of the existing path is poor. The place got its name from the lead deposits. The last mine was closed in 1975

Connections and continuations

  • Behind Hombourg you can find the way to line 39 (via Plombiéres) and cover a few more kilometers on rather poor roads. Improvements are planned here or already under construction, so that the future route to Aachen should lead via the 39. Now you can follow the EuroVelo route Aachen consequences.
  • between Plombiéres and Raeren runs (in the future) the Inter-RAVeL to Vennbahn. The Raeren - Hauset section is already signposted. The route is not of RAVeL quality.
  • The RAVeL 5 sits in Liege along the Ourthe. The connection cannot be found without studying maps or knowing the area. Here, too, improvements are in sight [2017].
  • in Liège you also meet them Maas cycle route and the Meuse.

References to literature and maps

Web links

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