Beautiful Altenbroek

The Altenbroek Nature Reserve in the Voer region has an area of 127 ha and takes its name from the private castle estate that bears this name. Hollow roads, forests, grubbs, spring areas and orchards alternate. Wild boars and badgers sniff here at night and nature managers are particularly proud of the midwives' journey. You will hardly find them anywhere in Flanders.

1. Leave your car at the St.-Lambertuskerk (V) in 's-Gravenvoeren, opposite the tourist office and the visitor centre. In front of the soldiers' monument next to the church, take the street on the left and walk along the blue and yellow promenade on the Kinkenberg passing in front of the Notre-Dame chapel (1), excellently restored in 1995. At the junction with the crucifix, keep the Koetsweg on the right. It rises, the asphalt becomes a pebble and after another crucifix - there are many more to come - a Natuurpunt information panel welcomes you to the nature reserve.
2. At fifty meters you already get a first beautiful panorama of the region. Further on, you walk between meadow on the right and fields on the left. At border post 24 and Snauwenberghoeve (2), you walk straight ahead at the Belgium-Netherlands border. A hundred meters after the farm, you dive directly into the road of the land. It now descends, just after nettles and blackberries, and then into the forest. Along the way, an information panel explains what uprooting is, deeply carved pieces of earth through which small rivers once flowed during the Ice Age.
3. After the gate at T, turn right. It is a pity that you cannot go to Altembrouck Castle (3) after the bend. So you walk straight along the Molenhoeve until you can go a little further - on a bench - through a door on the left into the meadow. Below flows the Noor, a hilly stream that rises at the source of Sainte-Brigitte, winds through the castle grounds and flows a few kilometers further into the Voer. You cross the narrow bridge and continue climbing through the meadows while passing a few swinging gates. At the top, you walk left on the dirt road. You arrive at a T-junction. If you opt for a shorter walk of 8 km, take the hollow road on the right and resume at (4).
4. If you can't resist the promising tracks in front of you, walk straight for the longest 10km trip. At the Margraten border crossing you enter the Netherlands. With views of the church and the bowl of the village of Noorbeek, you can picnic or enjoy the view on a rest bench. If you walk further, choose the path on the right at the shore. You return to Belgium on another bench of rest - admire this panorama - and a cross with the touching saying Livven Hier, es ich Dich 'ns zeuk, vin ich Dich a g'n beuk. You can also focus on an information panel about the presence and emancipated behavior of wild boars.
5. At the T-junction, turn right onto GR Road and at the next intersection (4), merge onto GR Route on the left. Hikers on the short road walk straight here. So everyone goes down collectively and firmly into the beech forest. At the bottom of the first house, on another cross, turn right to follow the GR. Even if the path divides a little further, turn left.
6. You come to the feed and follow it. Cross the footbridge and follow, on the left bank now. On another bridge, you move away from the Voer. Turn right at the intersection and immediately before the big door where you walk again on the left. Turn left at T and after the Voer, turn left onto Kitchen. You've had the best now, but you're almost there. At the junction of a bank and a cross with the text "Lord you come with peace, who walk towards you" on the right climb and above left into the Koetsweg and follow the Kinkenberg to the church. The local middle class welcomes you with open arms.