Wanenberg

The Wanenberg is a hill with a height of 100 meters above sea level. He is located between the towns of Munstergeleen, Windraak and Puth and belongs to the Geleenbeek valley nature reserve. The hill forms part of the western steep edge of the Doenrade Plateau along the Geleenbeek valley.

The Wanenberg is actually an old river terrace, which connects the river Maas throughout history by changing its course. The steep slopes form the transition from the high terrace (the plateau) to the middle terrace (the valley). Due to the creation of the Steengrub, a dry valley or grub that cuts through the plateau on the south side of the hill, the Wanenberg a round bulge that is now covered by depressions on two sides. surround.

The difference in height between the summit and the foot of the slopes of the Wanenberg is approximately 35 metres long. The slopes are overgrown by remnants hillside forest, which line the farmland at the top. The main remnant of this hillside forest is the Hondskerk, in which nature organization IVN has a botanical garden has developed. Parts of the Wanenberg/Hondskerk have been managed since 1997 by the Society for the Preservation of Nature in the Netherlands.

From the edges of the Wanenberg you have a wide view over the Western Mining District. The municipality of Schinnen has provided several marked hiking trails on and around the hill. In the case of cyclists, the Wanenberg is popular for its climb, which has an average gradient of 5.1 percent. The steepest part of the climb has a gradient of around 8 percent.

Tourist Board South Limburg (Visit Zuid-Limburg)