Groeve de Hel – Riesenberg Vineyard loop from Savelsbos

Hiking trails & Routes

Netherlands

Limburg

Eijsden-Margraten

Groeve de Hel – Riesenberg Vineyard loop from Savelsbos

Moderate

4.6

(79)

317

hikers

Groeve de Hel – Riesenberg Vineyard loop from Savelsbos

02:19

8.60km

110m

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:

Savelsbos

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.78 km

Narrow Path Through Meadow

Highlight • Trail

There are often horses in the pasture here. So if your dog can't handle this well, take him on a leash and try to practice.

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2.70 km

View of the Meuse River and Sint-Pietersberg

Highlight • Viewpoint

At various places along the footpaths, also in the Savelsbos and towards Cadier en Keer, you can see beautiful views over the Meuse valley. The Sint-Pietersberg is always visible somewhere as a striking landmark, like here.

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2.74 km

Savelsbos: Forest and Prehistoric Flint Mines

Highlight • Forest

Northern part (the Riesenberg) of the beautiful Savelsbos with its many wild garlic, grubben and grooves, history and beautiful nature and views.

A bit more official: "The Savelsbos is a narrow, rugged hillside forest, one of the most beautiful forests in South Limburg. Beneath the forest meander the corridors of (really) old quarries. The minerals were gravel, marl and flint. There are several prehistoric flint mines in the Savelbos. If you visit the Savelbos, you are entering badger territory. The largest badger population in the Netherlands lives here. You will definitely come across castles there. If you go in May, there is a strong smell of garlic in the forest and you will be enchanted by the white flowers of the wild garlic." Source and info: visitzuidlimburg.nl/te-doen-in-zuid-limburg/attracties-bezienswaardigheden/detail/savelsbos/65177

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3.25 km

Groeve de Hel

Highlight • Cave

How old the Great and Small Hell quarries are is difficult to say with precision, but they are certainly sixteenth century. A clue can be found in a small niche where the date 1587 is thinly scratched and almost illegible on the 24th day…. Furthermore, a single date from the seventeenth century and various dates from the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Quite a few inscriptions can be found in the hell quarries, such as somewhat cryptic: “Sister of the sunbeam, a white rose in the bouquet, a lily on the foliage, a swan whose down does not recognize its border, a star in the blue firmament”. Or edifying: You who enter here, let all feuds go”. And what about: “Never again will I come here to the accursed caverns”.

Sometimes visitors to Hell could barely save themselves. “Today, the 1st (February).. Around 12 o’clock in the morning of 1823, a terrible number of blocks fell down, under which the three of us had stood, named Matthijs Ramakers of Margerate, Matthieu Schrijnemaekers Gronsfeld W. Theunissen. We thank God that he has preserved us from death”.

A major collapse occurred in June 1965. This was not surprising, as the stability of the Kleine Hel in particular was questionable. Several columns showed cracks and there had been a lot of overexploitation. Not long after, the entrances were closed. Nevertheless, in December 1982, members of the Vereniging tot Natuurbehoud managed to visit the Helgroeve. A report of the trip can be found in Ut Wiet Klief of July 1984. During the trip through the marl corridors, the nature lovers came across a number of inscriptions, sometimes just a name, then again a year.
A number of inscriptions that were encountered spoke for themselves. Two examples: ‘I am in Hell, I know that. I am all alone here. The devil knows where my comrades are.’ Or what about: ‘Watch out for those who love the Devil, because here in this place that has always borne the name of Hell, the devils are innumerable.’ Or: ‘He who looks at this monster (devil) is even more mad than he who made him.’ ‘Workman from this mountain, what you are now I have been and what I am now (skeleton) you will soon be.

Anyone who wants to read more about the most fascinating text in the quarry according to the author of the above article or wants to know everything about the accident of January 17, 1893, goes to historischekringcadierenkeer.nl/nieuws/55-publicaties-keerder-kroniek/kent-u-deze-plek-links/928-de-hel.html

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3.84 km

Riesenberg Vineyard

Highlight • Structure

This vineyard gate is adorned with the estate's coat of arms.

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4.32 km

Savelsbos Limestone Caves

Highlight • Cave

4.38 km

View of the Riesenberg Quarry and Wijngaardberg

Highlight • Viewpoint

Here you can see the quarries on top of the mountain

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8.02 km

View of Savelsbos from Duistersteeg

Highlight • Viewpoint

8.60 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.28 km

4.03 km

305 m

Surfaces

5.67 km

1.47 km

554 m

417 m

364 m

126 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (130 m)

Lowest point (60 m)

Weather

Friday 9 October

15°C

9°C

33 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 24.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

May 26, 2025,Inspiratie; Savelsbos – Wijndomein Riesenberg rondtocht vanuit Cadier en Keer 🇳🇱🥾🐕‍🦺⛅😀

Startpunt bij Parkeerplaats Kerk Cadier en Keer.

We hebben een logé deze week die wilde wel weer mee wandelen, 🐕‍🦺 Floortje. Dit was al enkele jaren geleden dat zij mee ging wandelen. Het ging geweldig goed.
Route niet te lang gemaakt 😃.
Jammer was de Daslook al uitgebloeid was, maar de geur hing nog wel in het bos.
Deze route …

July 14, 2024,Savelsbos – Wijndomein Riesenberg Runde von Cadier en Keer

Today some paths are difficult to pass due to the heavy rain of the last few days

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April 14, 2024,Cadier en Keer Runde durch den Savelsboser Wald in Südlimburg

A very beautiful hike, it leads to badger dens, old quarries and an impressive variety of plants. The wild garlic flower carpets were a particular highlight. We did this hike in mid-April.

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April 29, 2026,Inspiratie; Groeve de Hel – Wijndomein Riesenberg - Daslook - vanuit Cadier en Keer 🇳🇱🥾☀️☀️🌿

Starting point: 🅿️ Along the roadside
Parking space is only for a few cars
Walk of almost 2 hours.

Route where wild garlic is central (April/May).
Some calf-biters at the end of the loop.

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) is a plant from the daffodil family (Amaryllidaceae). It is a relatively common species in Belgium and the Netherlands, which has remained …

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December 27, 2021,WGZL 0097. Cadier en Keer (ingekort / telefoon defect) 🇳🇱 🥾

wandelgidszuidlimburg.com/wp/0097-2

ALWAYS DOWNLOAD THIS ROUTE FROM THE HIKING GUIDE SITE. All credits go after WGZL.
My route may deviate from the original route !!
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ALWAYS DOWNLOAD THIS ROUTE FROM THE HIKING GUIDE SITE. All credits go after WGZL.
My route may deviate from the original route !!
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This route cannot be followed entirely via Komoot [start at the …

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March 11, 2023,Groeselt NL - Gronsveld D: RUNDWEG ÜBER CADIER EN KEER

The characteristic of this hike is the large proportion of ancient trees and the rock caves, which unfortunately cannot be walked on. I can recommend the not very easy hiking trail, which is typical for South Limburg, to anyone who is reasonably fit.

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