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Mountain Peaks

Wallonie

Signal of Botrange

Mountain Peaks

Wallonie

Signal of Botrange

Highlight • Summit

Signal of Botrange

Recommended by 156 hikers out of 165

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parc naturel des Hautes-Fagnes – Eifel

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Location: Waimes, Verviers, Liège, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Signal of Botrange

4.9

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906

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1. Boardwalk Over the Wez Stream – Polleur Venn loop from Longfaye

15.1km

04:02

170m

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

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Moderate

4.8

(186)

620

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2. Beautiful section of the trail – Boardwalk Over the Wez Stream loop from Longfaye

20.8km

05:33

230m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

4.8

(144)

745

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3. Boardwalks of the Polleur Venn – Boardwalk Over the Wez Stream loop from Longfaye

11.8km

03:10

140m

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

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Moderate

Tips

March 31, 2025

Botrange dominates the plateau of the Hautes Fagnes and is the highest point in Belgium at 694 m above sea level. This status was granted in 1920 when the East Cantons (including the municipality of Waimes) became Belgian territory after the Treaty of Versailles. It thus replaced the site of the Baraque Michel (672 m), which is located on the territory of Jalhay.

As early as the 19th century, there were two geodetic markers:

- the "Pyramide Tranchot", erected in 1806 by a French colonel (under Napoleon) who was charged with drawing up a map of the region. This stone bears a goniometric point 1 on its front.
- the "Trigonometric Point" (TP), erected in 1894 by German military engineers.

In 1923, General Baltia (High Commissioner of the Belgian government for the East Cantons between 1920 and 1925) built a hill there to "mark" the location of this new peak of the Kingdom, just behind a wooden tower that served as an observation post and was built by the Prussian administration.

The current tower was built in 1934 by François Fagnoul of Waimes, is 24 m high and offers a view of the surrounding area (and far beyond). At the foot of it, on the right, is the tourist office, which informs visitors about walks in the Fens.

In 2014, a monument known as the "Manifesto of Botrange" was inaugurated there by the municipality of Waimes, in the presence of Paul Dandrifosse, author of the book "Nos terres volées en 1940", a plea for the official recognition of the history of the East Cantons.

As part of the redevelopment of the site by the municipality of Waimes in 2022 (extension of the car park, access via a covered lift to the top of the tower - raised by a viewing platform - creation of a reception and information area for visitors and modernisation of the café-restaurant), the history of East Belgium will be outlined in the Eastorium (see History and Heritage), supplemented by a tour of the Fens, along the old milestones and other monuments of the Fens.

Source: waimeshautesfagnes.be/nl/decouvrir/incontournables/le-signal-de-botrange.htm

Translated by Google •

Dirk D. 🇧🇪

March 28, 2025

More information about the Botrange signal can be found at waimeshautesfagnes.be/nl/decouvrir/incontournables/le-signal-de-botrange.htm

Translated by Google •

Ronny G

May 19, 2025

Parking lot, a brasserie and straight into nature.

Translated by Google •

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Details

Informations

Elevation 690 m

Weather

Friday 5 December

6°C

1°C

65 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Waimes, Verviers, Liège, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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High Fens (Hohes Venn)

Signal of Botrange

1. Boardwalk Over the Wez Stream – Polleur Venn loop from Longfaye

2. Beautiful section of the trail – Boardwalk Over the Wez Stream loop from Longfaye

3. Boardwalks of the Polleur Venn – Boardwalk Over the Wez Stream loop from Longfaye

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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