Name: Site of the Schmerling Caves
Rating: 2

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Belgium

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Liège

Flémalle

Site of the Schmerling Caves

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Places to see

Caves

Belgium

Wallonia

Wallonie

Liège

Flémalle

Site of the Schmerling Caves

Recommended by 21 hikers

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Location: Flémalle, Liège, Liège, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Site of the Schmerling Caves

4.6

(41)

136

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1. Aux Roches Nature Reserve – Castle of Aigremont loop from Awirs

13.2km

03:53

370m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.6

(31)

116

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2. Aux Roches Nature Reserve – Castle of Aigremont loop from Leman

14.4km

04:13

400m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.0

(9)

hikers

3. Old Lime Kiln – View of the Awirs Rocks loop from Awirs

10.5km

02:53

170m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

October 18, 2024

In 1829, the Dutch physician Philippus Schmerling found prehistoric remains here. He discovered the Neanderthal man before Neandertal would give it its name after similar finds there in 1856. The caves in which the bones were found are no longer accessible. The area is still known as the site des Grottes Schmerling. Source: ultimatehiking.be/dagtocht-steengroeven-mullerthal-kastelen-langs-maas

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fg Bob 🤠🚴‍♂️ 🌲 🦌 👍🛞

March 30, 2025

Although the caves are no longer accessible, they are worth the detour for their unexpected beauty. The red earth blends perfectly with the gray of the rock walls and the green of its abundant ivy.

There were originally four caves on this site. The first disappeared due to limestone mining between 1890 and 1900. Exploring the Cockerill quarry massif, Philippe-Charles Schmerling discovered four caves on the site called Trô Cwaheur (= cut, tear).

In the second cave, he unearthed two human skulls in 1829, one said to be Cro-Magnon and the second a Neanderthal child. The bones were associated with extinct fauna and presented the same state of preservation. At a time when biblical theory still prevailed, he began to prove the appearance of humans on earth more than 4,000 years ago. But, misunderstood, it would be necessary to wait for the discoveries made in the Neander Valley, in Germany, to see his thesis confirmed. It was a close call for "Neanderthal man" to be called "Awirs man". The site belongs to the Société Carmeuse and has been classified since 1978. The ditch that can be seen on the site is due to a subsidence of the ground following the exploitation of alum. Alum was exploited in this place from 1580 until the middle of the 18th century (around 1740).

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Zovi

April 27, 2025

This is a cave I used to visit a long time ago. Before, you could start at the very bottom and work your way up to the top of the quarry. Now, I don't think that's possible anymore.

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Elevation 120 m

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Sunday 21 September

14°C

8°C

40 %

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Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

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Location: Flémalle, Liège, Liège, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

Site of the Schmerling Caves

1. Aux Roches Nature Reserve – Castle of Aigremont loop from Awirs

2. Aux Roches Nature Reserve – Castle of Aigremont loop from Leman

3. Old Lime Kiln – View of the Awirs Rocks loop from Awirs

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