This month we step back to the roots of the well-known Chaudfontaine water. Put on sturdy hiking shoes, as the route leads over many ascending and descending paths, also through the forest.

Text and photo Eddy Vlyminck

Everyone is familiar with the bottles of mineral water from Chaudfontaine. A red, blue or green cap, depending on the amount of carbon dioxide. The thermal water appears after a journey of about... sixty (!) years at the surface with a temperature of 37 degrees. This also explains the name of the town – 'warm fountain'. If you want to know everything about the how and why of the thermal water, a visit to Source o Rama, in the center of the town, is certainly a must. Chaudfontaine may not have the allure of its big brother Spa, but it does have some remarkable attractions with its Casino, Source o Rama, and Château des Thermes. Free parking is available in Rue Basse-Henne or Rue des Economes.

The route

Start in Rue Emile Vandervelde, at the intersection of Rue des Economes, in Vaux-sur-Chèvremont (V), a district of Chaudfontaine. Cross the Vesder via the bridge. Immediately turn right onto Rue Namont. You walk alongside the Vesder. At the Y-split, turn left. You pass Rue de la Coöperation and follow the gently ascending Rue Cherra. Walking between buildings, you come to house number 127, where you turn right. While climbing, take a moment to look back for a nice view of Liège. At the split, turn left. This is Rue Fond des Maçons. At the nursing home, turn right onto the dead-end road. This quickly turns into a forest path. Another steep climb, and we reach Rue de Chèvremont. Turn right. You walk towards the Basilique Notre-Dame de Chèvremont (1), where you will soon get a glimpse of it. Walk past the Chapelle de l’Amour Miséricordieux and turn left just after the Calvary. Follow the GR signs. A steep descent in the woods brings you to a stream. Follow this for a bit until you reach the little bridge. Cross the stream, go over the paved road, and climb again. You are still following the GR signs. You reach a paved road where you gently ascend and turn left. At the split, turn right onto Rue du Bois de la Grue. After a right turn, at the intersection turn right towards Fort de Chaudfontaine (2). You walk past a military cemetery. Where the asphalt road bends left, at the entrance of the fort, turn right into the parking lot. At the end of the parking lot, watch out: you follow the red and white GR signs through the woods. Descend until you reach another asphalt road. Turn left. Follow this slightly descending road to the T-intersection. Turn right, under the railway. Immediately turn right again. You walk past Taverne L’Esplanade. Continue straight between the casino (3) and the railway, past several tennis courts. Soon you reach the Vesder. Keep following the path next to the Vesder. Along the park, with the Château des Thermes, walk to the second bridge over the Vesder (4). Turn right onto Rue Hauster. Go over the little bridge and turn left, under the railway. At the right bend, continue straight into the hamlet of Casmatrie. From now on, continue straight, ignoring all side roads. You will come back to the Vesder, which you follow until the bridge where you started the walk.

Need more walking inspiration? Visit www.pasar.be/wandeltips