Marlstone cave – Caestert Footbridge loop from Eijsden

Hiking trails & Routes

Marlstone cave – Caestert Footbridge loop from Eijsden

Moderate

4.8

(231)

712

hikers

Marlstone cave – Caestert Footbridge loop from Eijsden

03:01

11.1km

150m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Réserve naturelle domaniale de Lanaye

Réserve naturelle protégé Montagne Saint-Pierre

Réserve naturelle Heyoule

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

3.45 km

View of the Lixhe Cement Factory and Quarries

Highlight • Viewpoint

About halfway along the "Chemin des ânes" (the donkey road), on the Thiers de Nivelles you have a beautiful view of the cement factory and the marl quarries of Lixhe, …

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4.50 km

Ancienne carrière de Pirpagnet

Forest

4.86 km

Marlstone cave

Highlight • Cave

This is the first accessible marlstone cave on the nature trail from the direction of Eben-Emael. A flashlight is required here, as daylight disappears after about 20 meters.

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5.40 km

Ancienne carrière

Forest

6.84 km

Like the French buildings of the 16th century, it was built in the shape of a pentagon and is surrounded by an impressive protective structure against tank attacks.
Source: landofmemory.eu/de/sites-historiques/fort-eben-emael

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7.47 km

Maastricht 1 Casemate, Fort Eben-Emael

Highlight • Historical Site

The fort's long-distance armament:
The cupola 120 as a rotating armored cupola with a total mass of 450 t and two 120 mm caliber cannons,
The two domes north and …

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8.13 km

Caestert Footbridge

Highlight • Bridge

If you like suspension bridges, you have to go, it's worth it! You have a beautiful view over the canal and can combine it with a great hike, I was thrilled!

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9.23 km

Block 01 Viewpoint, Fort Eben-Emael

Highlight • Viewpoint

Block 01 had the task of protecting the Lanaye lock and the railway line from Maastricht to Visé. For this task he had a 6 cm anti-tank gun, three sMGs, …

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10.2 km

Thier des Vignes Flint Caves

Highlight • Cave

These are very old flints, protected in the Natagora site. No fewer than 13 cave entrances follow one another along the path. They are not deep and run along the slope. Chalk was also mined there.
Source: mini-ardenne.be/poi.card.php?id=6036&language=fr

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10.3 km

Stairs to Thier des Vignes

Highlight • Climb

Anyone who likes long and many stairs to bridge height differences will undoubtedly find what they are looking for in the region :) Also stop for the views! This staircase …

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11.1 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.58 km

2.94 km

1.40 km

182 m

Surfaces

4.59 km

2.66 km

1.68 km

1.11 km

993 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Thursday 8 October

14°C

8°C

87 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 30.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

May 16, 2023,Festung und Berg Saint Pierre Eben-Emael

A really blatant highlight! The museum is outstanding. And the hiking trail leads above ground through the fortress. In addition, the adjacent Saint Pierre is criss-crossed with numerous walk-in grottos. Attention, it goes up and down. You can stop off at the start/end point in a brasserie that specializes in crêpe.

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October 16, 2022,Abenteuertour von Mr. Pfade: Fort Ében-Emeal

This tour preceded Mr. Paths and he recommended it to us with a child (8)...thanks for that.
It's a great tour, very interesting and varied, easy to do with great views, caves to walk through and the top of Fort Ében-Émeal. The bunker museum would certainly be very impressive...we will return for this, our 8 year old felt way too …

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August 26, 2024,Wanderung 🥾 im Naturschutzgebiet Lanaye 🇧🇪 am südlichen Teil des St. Pietersberg

A really beautiful hike! The starting point is Fort Eben-Emael. It goes uphill past a few bunkers and there are several opportunities to look out over the Maas. We made a little detour into one of the caves and met sheep that had retreated there on the hot day. The path mostly runs through wooded areas, which was really pleasant …

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August 6, 2022,Abenteuertour Maastricht Teil 2

Hike with bunkers and caves, lots of steps and a bit of a view.

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December 30, 2023,Auf dem Spuren von Mr. Pfade: Abenteuertour Maastricht Teil 2

Today a big wow and a bit of adventure... I came for this tour and it exceeded my expectations... This morning the sun was shining over Valkenburg and so the trip went straight to Belgium. Tours from Mr. Paths are always an experience. First there was a little excursion into the past with lots of bunkers and beautiful views over …

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July 20, 2025,Mr. Pfade Abenteuertour Maastricht Teil 2

You could also call it, from the bunkers to the sandstone caves. A varied route that will have a new highlight from mid-2026: a suspension bridge over the Albert Canal.

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November 1, 2023,Bunker - Maas - Runde von Eben-Emael

Great round with cool caves. Something different and certainly something for children in a shorter form.
All credits to @Mr. Pfade for this tour, which I ran exactly according to plan.

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May 1, 2025,MrPfade Abenteuertour Maastricht 2

Today, our grandchild (8) hiked with us. Based on Michael and Manuel's description, we were confident that the child would get his money's worth and enjoy the hike.
And that's exactly what happened. From the very beginning, she was on fire, full of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. One question followed another, and everything had to be examined closely. …

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