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A circuit on the hills of Chaudfontaine Chaudfontaine means “hot fountain”: this is the site of the only natural hot springs in Belgium. The circuit tours the surrounding hills, offering fine views over a landscape of hedged farmland and pasture, on the fringes of the Pays de Herve. After leaving the River Vesdre at Vaux-sousChèvremont, we take the RAVeL, which follows the path of the disused railway Line 38. During the 19th century this carried coal from Fléron to Germany, and metals from Plombières to the industries in the Meuse basin. Today one can glide along this route in complete peace: nature has reclaimed its rights. When we leave the greenway after the Terril de Basse-Ransy (terril is the French for slag heap), the hedged farmland of the Pays de Herve comes into view, and we enter it after passing the pretty Chapelle Sainte-Anne. Built in 1889, it commemorates the deaths of five soldiers from Brittany, killed near here in 1794, during the occupation of Belgium by the French Revolutionary Army. The route skirts Romsée. Near Chaumont the view takes in the whole valley of the River Vesdre. Passing from hamlet to hamlet, we negotiate the hills of Chaudfontaine, passing Haras de la Rochette. There’s a fine descent to the river, which then serves as our guiding thread to lead us back to Vaux-sousChèvremont, via the Parc de Hauster, home to some remarkable trees.
To discover… · Source O Rama, Chaudfontaine Fun, interactive attractions to reveal the mysteries of water, and its implications. Avenue des Thermes, 78b 4050 Chaudfontaine www.sourceorama.com (French only) · Piscine Thermale de Chaudfontaine Unique in Belgium, a swimming-pool filled with thermal water, with a roof that opens. Avenue des thermes, 147 4050 Chaudfontaine www.chaudfontaine.be (French only) · Galler Chocolatier, Vaux-sous-Chèvremont The shop of the famous Galler chocolatemaker, based here. Rue de la Station, 39 4051 Vaux-sous-Chèvremont www.galler.com
Good to know! A bike repair workshop in Chaudfontaine called Eco-Calidifourchon made cycling history in 2013 when it built the world’s tallest rideable bike: 6.3m high, it was ridden for 110m in Liège. MAISON DU TOURISME OURTHE-VESDRE-AMBLÈVE (ANTENNE) Avenue des Thermes, 78b - 4050 Chaudfontaine Tel. +32 (0)4 361 56 30 www.ovatourisme.be (french, Dutch and German only)
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