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Ligne 48 - Vennbahn
Family
71 km
De Raeren à Sankt-Vith/Saint-Vith
This route leads you through superb, undulating landscapes where the gradients are mainly more gentle than you may have expected (max. 2%). This is the advantage of travelling safely along the RAVeL made up of the old railway line No 48 with its viaducts built of local stone and its new metal footbridges.
You will appreciate this lovely German-speaking region, the neighbouring German Eifel and the magnificent Hautes Fagnes landscapes and, finally, the forests and bocages in the valley of the East Amblève. The towns of Montjoie (Monschau) and St-Vith further enhance the pleasure of the trip.
The route follows the path of the Vennbahn international route, an old railway line set out through three countries which has now become one of Europe's longest and most beautiful greenways. The Vennbahn is very popular among soft tourism enthusiasts and has its own website: www.vennbahn.eu.
Interactive Route Map
Route Stages : Ligne 48 - Vennbahn 2
De Raeren à Montjoie/Monschau (D) (stage 1)
Line 48 RAVeL
The Line 48 RAVeL follows a permanent curve, starting at the site of the old Raeren railway station.
Having crossed the woods in the commune of Raeren, the Line 48 RAVeL - Vennbahn passes back and forth from one country to the other as nowhere else. One moment it is in Germany, the next in Belgium. The particular feature of the Line 48 RAVeL is that you are always in Belgium, even though much of the land on either side of the path is in Germany. All along the way you come across remains of the railway network, silent witnesses of a glorious past.
Family
26,5 km
De Montjoie/Monschau (D) à Sankt-Vith/Saint-Vith (stage 2)
Line 48 RAVeL
Starting from the old Montjoie/Monschau railway station, the way leads you towards the Rur valley in Belgium. A unique area of heath heralds the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve. This fascinating region of raised peat bogs is a huge water reservoir that forces visitors to cross many streams and rivers. Between Kalterherberg (D) and Sourbrodt (B), you will be accompanied by budding railway workers sitting tight on railbikes.
Family
44 km
