Müllerthal Fall break

Luxemburg’s Müllerthal region is where we found ourselves last week: a little nature break in an impressive geological and green mini paradise nicknamed Little Switzerland….

We stayed in Hotel Meyer in Beaufort with start of many hiking tours and Beaufort’s renaissance castle within walking distance.

Beaufort Luxemburg
view on castle coming from village

 

Leading hiking track in the region is the Müllerthal trail, 112 km long and composed of three main routes linking the several villages and their natural and cultural highlights. These three routes are all connected however can just as well be hiked seperately and, if feet are not weary enough, another four extra tours complete the region’s wanderlust Erlebnis.

First day of our tip we explored Beaufort and walked part of the b1 hike starting at castle.

Beaufort Luxemburg

Beaufort Luxemburg

 

Beaufort Müllerthal

 

woman admiring Fall view Beaufort Luxemburg

Day two was all rainy and windy, die-hards wouldn’t let this stop them from hiking; not that fanatic though 😉  we took a trip to nearby Trier to indulge us in warm coffee, chocolates, some shopping and local beers.

 

Day three and already final day of our nature break…sun present again so we decided to make most of this day starting off with an early morning walk in neighbouring Grundhof. With moist and rain of previous day still in the air and soil (and my bones) this gave a strange mystical feel to the forest.

Foggy morning Grundhof Luxemburg

From where we stood, pointing the camera in the other direction gave the below photo, and no…not a b&w one…glad Halloween was over, tiny bit creepy!

Grundhof Luxemburg

After checking out off the hotel we headed to Berdorf and saved best for last…

colours of Fall Berdorf Müllerthal Luxemburg

Berdorf Müllerthal Luxemburg

Berdorf Müllerthal Luxemburg

Along the trail stairs and ladders help to conquer the height differences…or you can take the more adventurous path like this young lady (not me in pic)

woman rock-climbing Berdorf Müllerthal Luxemburg

Typical are the rock formations and narrows…curious how nature formed such a mind-blowing landscape?

Millions of years ago, Müllerthal region was covered by a large sea. Over time, however, a thick layer of sand covered the clay underground. When the sea receded and water starting flowing over land, the relatively soft sandstone eroded, eventually forming a landscape of stream-filled valleys and cliffs. However, when water filters through the porous sandstone and reaches the watertight layer of clay beneath, it builds up and is trapped resulting in destabilizing the rocks around the valley edges, causing parts of sandstone to slip down the valley or break off completely.

Berdorf Luxemburg

Pretty sure that’s one of our ancestors coming peeping out of the rock…anybody else see the human head shape, or is it just me?

Rock formation Berdorf Mullerthal Luxemburg

Berdorf Mullerthal Luxemburg
the Hohllay rock formation in Berdorf

Berdorf Luxemburg

a game of tones Fall at Mullerthal trail Luxemburg

 

Mullerthal trail Luxemburg

Mullerthal trail Luxemburg

Mullerthal trail Luxemburg

Thirteen years since our previous visit…

Mullerthal trail Luxemburg
little trip down memory lane…

and yes…it’s still impressive!

Mullerthal trail Luxemburg

 

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Visit Müllerthal

Müllerthal trail

Hotel Meyer

Auberge Rustique – cosy restaurant in Beaufort

Trier Tourism

 

 

Welcome in the Voer region…

…once a political and linguistic battleground, now every wanderer’s, cyclist’s and nature lover’s dream! This rural region is situated in the far eastern part of Belgium, in province Limburg, and consists of six small villages* lying at a stone’s throw from the Belgian-Dutch border yet still close to major cities as Liège, Aachen and Maastricht.  Its location nearby rivers Rhine and Meuse, the landscape and soil have always attracted many to exploit: the Romans did, even traces back to prehistoric times can be found…Over the years however nature, the unique character, position and its advantages rightfully took the upper hand for this region…who cares which language is spoken when there is so much to enjoy and discover…

bridge Voerstreek

St-Martens-Voeren is dominated by the tall ( 23 metres) railway bridge. It is part of the rail connection Tongeren-Aken, mainly used for freight transport and was built by the Germans in World War I.

As in most of these tiny villages, the church building dominates and in this case also the starting point of hiking route ‘de Bronnenwandeling’ which was chosen most beautiful hiking trail in Flanders in 2012.

No exploring on an empty stomach though, Hoeve de Bies is ideal for any short or longer hungry break and when in Limburg of course, the typical ‘Limburgse vlaai’ is all around…resistance is futile!

dessert tea break

It was the tiny hamlet of Veurs (Sint-Martens-Voeren) that stunned us most during our little trip. This particular area is known for its concentration of typical timber frame houses. It is home to some extraordinary fauna and flora, mixes tree orchards and small forests and it’s oh so quiet…big like!

Veurs timbered houses

Veursvallei Limburg Voeren

Timbered houses

landscape Voeren Limburg

nature soil Voeren

horseriding Limburg Voeren

 

Sint-Pieters-Voeren is the smallest of the six ‘Voer-villages’, with fewer than 300 inhabitants, and best-known for its Commanderie. This castle belonged to the German Knights Templar until the French revolution. The current building was constructed in the beginning of the 17th century in the so-called ‘Meuse-region Renaissance-style’.

Commanderie Sint-Pieters-Voeren

In the park of the castle lies the spring  that provides the ponds and the Voer river with water at a ratio of some 3000 litres per minute. In these surrounding ponds trout and sturgeon are bred which is a true delicacy and is on the menu at the local on-site brasserie and many of the local restaurants.

We had our feet up and enjoyed a lovely little ham and cheese snack at Gasterij de Commanderie opposite the castle.

Gasterij de Commanderie

Perfect way to end this little pre-Spring ‘tourist in own country’ trip and look back on the lovely landscapes and walking routes we discovered along the way. This definitely tastes for more, litterally, as there are some outstanding winehouses in this region as is the nearby abbey of Val-Dieu and its beer of the same name, needless to say we’ll be back!

Next post I’ll take you along to Maastricht, just over the Belgian-Dutch border and easily to combine with a Voerstreek visit!

Voerstreek Limburg Timbered house

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(*) Moelingen, ‘s-Gravenvoeren, Sint-Martens-Voeren, Sint-Pieters-Voeren, Teuven and Remersdaal

Tourist info Voerstreek

Voeren stormy history

Gasterij de Commanderie

Hoeve de Bies

 

 

 

 

 

Cow models and diva attitudes…

Weekend approaching fast and some fun intermezzo is allowed, right?! Those of you who read my previous post already know we spent a lovely week in beautiful sunny Simmental, Switzerland. During our usual daily and evening walks one sound always accompanied us, being close or somewhere remote in the distance: the Swiss cow bells…oh, and do not mistake, when close-by, these beautifully manufactured bells make decibel metres explode and your ears pop! No cow bells without cows and must say some were pretty anxious to hit the spotlights!

Swiss cows

“Holy cow, is she taking pictures? I want in, I want in…”

Swiss cows

“Ok, switching positions now…”

Swiss cows

“I want to be on cover this issue…no, I want to be…noooo, I want to be…move over”

Swiss cows

“Strike a pose?! Can’t you see we’re naturals!”

 

Enjoy the weekend!

Next time will take you around wineslopes of Spiez at stunning Thunersee, so stay tuned!

Swiss cows

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