Tour 19: 'Sea of flowers' Raeren – hiking in East Belgium

Fantastic area. Real feel-good atmosphere. Have set out on a short trip to Raeren from the Rhein-Sieg district. Beautiful hiking landscape. Afterwards, the Belgian border town of Eupen invites you to a well-balanced feast followed by Leonidas Shopping. At Delheize, "loot" is then made and Belgian beers and groceries are bought. A piece of vacation for home. 😍

I had to do some shopping today anyway, so I went from Delhaize to Raaeren Castle, where I took a short walk through beautifully blooming meadows and had a nice stop at Raaeren train station with its many beers. It was amazing to see the trees clinging to a rock. The speedwell was blooming beautifully; it was deeply relaxing today.

Today we went on a lovely tour around Raeren in wet weather. Great paths over wet meadows, watery feet and dripping trousers guaranteed. But great smells, flowers and plants. We had a lovely stop in the old railway carriage at the (beer) café at Raeren station. It was a lot of fun again

We didn't find a sea of flowers. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful hike on the day we were returning home. It was an adventure of its own, as the path repeatedly led us across meadows and in places past grazing cattle. We were peaceful, they were peaceful and everything was wonderful.

Sunday, January 16, 2022 - HUWAO monthly ride It was in gloomy weather with a little rain at the start of the hike that we left Raeren for a loop circuit. We hiked tarmac, country trails, forest trails and crossed meadows in mud and standing water.

Beautiful hike through the meadows of Wallonia around Raeren, with wonderful views, nice cafés and restaurants.

Today I decided to hike the pleasure tour 19 in Belgium. I started at the cemetery, where I also parked. On this dry winter day, I thought a hike through rural Raeren was OK. The village, its houses and farmsteads are scattered throughout the landscape, surrounded by meadows and connected by interesting paths and trails. On a stroll through Raeren, you will come across numerous traces of the former Raeren pottery art and the typical quarry stone architecture. Cultural-historical signs explain the historical background. It starts at Raeren Castle, which was built in the course of the 14th century at the confluence of the Iter and Periolbach. The two streams fed the moat surrounding the castle, which protected the residents from intruders. In the 16th century, the castle was expanded and in the 18th century restored in a romantic style. This is how the complex came into being as it is today, with a high tower, balcony and the current entrance with an archway. The castle is located in the historic center of Raeren, where the earliest potteries were also located. The history of the Raeren potteries is now documented in the main building of the castle by the pottery museum housed there. European cultural heritage of pottery in a hiking region with historic buildings, castles and a diverse range of fauna and flora. The museum presents an overview of the history of Raeren stoneware and has been awarded the European Cultural Heritage Seal. I followed the course of the Iterbach, which flows into the open landscape patterned with hedges. On both sides of the path there are wide meadows and fields. Small forests, hedges and orchards can be seen on the horizon. The old Vennbahn runs past the edge of the forest. The Vennbahn is a former railway line for passenger and freight traffic between Aachen and Ulflingen in Luxembourg via Monschau and Sankt Vith, with connections to Stolberg, Eupen, Malmedy, Jünkerath and Prüm. As a result of the drawing of borders and the cession of territory after the First World War, the originally German route changed from German to Belgian territory in some sections of its route from Aachen to Ulflingen. Water tanks, cables and locomotives point to the strategic importance of this border station. In 2001, operations of the Vennbahn ceased. This area seems to be more interesting for cyclists because of the Venn cycle path, because today I met a few cyclists but no hikers.

https://www.ostbelgien.eu/de/fiche/hiking/genusstour-19-raeren1 "Raeren is not far from the German border, directly on the route of the disused Vennbahn. The old train station is a popular destination, among other things because a cozy café has been set up in one of the old wagons. With a cup of coffee and a piece of cake, you can vividly imagine how steam locomotives used to stop here on their way through the Venn. This hiking tour not only brings you closer to the town and the train station of Raeren, but also to the beautiful meadow landscapes in which the town is embedded. You are not far from the raised moor of the Venn, but the landscape contrast could hardly be greater. Magical paths lead you through beautiful meadows framed by flowering hedges. The Iterbach flows through this lovely landscape, the course of which determines your hiking route. On the horizon you can see orchards, small patches of forest and lots of greenery. The start and finish are at the impressive Raeren Castle. There is a convenient parking lot here where you can park your car for the duration of your hike. You will also find cozy places to stop here to recharge your batteries before or after the tour. The previously mentioned station café is a good place to stop about halfway along the route." 🐻****************************************🐻 Directions by car 🚗 (parking lot at start/finish): Burgstrasse 101, 4730 Raeren, Belgium 50°40'44.8"N 6°07'14.3"E