The best running trails around Lontzen

Herbesthal's town hall is located on Kirchstraße. The village has approximately 2,400 inhabitants but belongs to Welkenrath.

Beautiful natural stone church with a monumental nave in front of the entrance portal

Stream that rises near Walhorn and runs through Astenet past Thor Castle

Saint Stephen (or Stefan, both spellings sometimes with the Latin ending "...us"), patron saint of the church in the Lontzen area, was one of the first seven deacons of the early Christian community in Jerusalem and the first martyr of early Christianity. The church commemorates him on the second day of Christmas, December 26. When Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, loudly proclaimed his vision of the open heavens: "And looking up into heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55), the people were so outraged that they drove him out of the city and stoned him.

St. Hubertus Church: Parish church of the Belgian town of Lontzen Due to its location above the road halfway up a hill, it towers over many of the village's houses. The present church was built between 1768 and 1770 according to a design by Joseph Moretti. A Gothic church had stood on this site since the end of the 14th century. The sacristy and the tower at the front are the work of the architect Wildt and were built in 1902 and 1910, respectively. The typical octagonal bell tower also dates from that period. The building was constructed of rubble stone. The interior of the church is very lavishly decorated and furnished: an altar from 1776, wood paneling from the 19th century, and partially gilded wall paintings from the early 20th century invite you to visit. The main altar dates from around 1850. The side altars date from around 1760 and are made of wood, some painted in marble and gilded in places. The communion rail dates from the end of the 18th century. Two confessionals date from around 1760 and are made of partially gilded oak. The church contains wall paintings from around 1907 and stucco depictions of God the Father from 1770. The church is surrounded by a cemetery, which is enclosed by a wall according to ancient tradition. Several grave crosses from the 16th century have been embedded in the wall. https://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/1067740 https://www.ostbelgien.eu/de/fiche/virtualtour/st-hubertus-pfarrkirche-lontzen St. Hubertus Church is part of the network of open churches. Between 1906 and 1908, the interior was decorated with Art Deco murals inspired by Romanesque-Byzantine art. The church's overall concept has been preserved, both decoratively and architecturally, and its furnishings are a testament to early 20th-century architecture. The church was completely restored in 2013. https://openchurches.eu/nl-be/gebouwen/saint-hubert-lontzen

History and Architecture: Tower: The origins of the Romanesque church tower date back to the 12th century. Choir: The Gothic choir dates from 1391 and demonstrates the development of church architecture in the Middle Ages. Nave: The main nave was built in the 15th century. Side aisles: These were rebuilt between 1724 and 1725. Restorations: In 1868, a comprehensive restoration was carried out by the architect Hugo Schneider from Kassel. Between 1880 and 1883, the Aachen architect L. Palm oversaw further work, which included the addition of clocks to four neo-Gothic sound openings. Special Features: Organ: The organ was built in 1859 by the Müller brothers from Reifferscheid and faithfully restored in 2002. Memorial plaque: Inside the church is a marble plaque depicting Saint George, flanked by the names of those who died in World War I and II, as well as civilian victims of World War II.

<< Kelmis – a place with a curious history >> "The name of the place Kelmis is derived from the zinc ore calamine, which was known in the area as Kelme. It was mined there from the early Middle Ages until the end of the 19th century. The place gained international fame in the period from 1816 to 1919. The existence of the neutral territory of Moresnet dates back to a dispute between the Kingdom of the United Netherlands and Prussia when establishing new borders after the fall of the French Empire. A local coin was struck in the name "Free Community of Moresnet". However, it was never in circulation in the neutral territory. In 1886, eight stamps were issued with the idea of establishing a local post office. However, they were only sold for 14 days because the postal service was a state monopoly. Numerous historical relics allow visitors to immerse themselves in the dazzling past of Kelmis. It can be seen on the history trail, the industrial trail, in the Altenberg nature reserve and on the display boards not far from the historic zinc mines." https://www.ostbelgien.eu/de/erleben/entdecken/panoramatafeln/fiche/kelmis

_ Idyllic landscape _