Tour 1: ‘River Gold’ Montenau – hiking in East Belgium

At Montenau, the Amel disappears into the so-called Wolfsbusch, a fir and beech forest that stretches across the borders of East Belgium. The river meanders leisurely through the beautiful forest landscape - and you can accompany it on its journey on this nine-kilometer hike. The tour starts in the tranquil town of Montenau.

You walk the first few kilometers through the dense wolf bush. The name of the forest is a reminder that wolves were still native to the Ardennes up until the 19th century. After a good four kilometers you can already hear the rippling of the Amel, which you then cross. By the way, the name Amel is Celtic and means water.

You continue hiking on level forest paths and follow a section of the GR 56 long-distance hiking trail. You cross another bridge and discover traces of earlier gold digging activities and long-buried dreams of quick riches.

Shortly before you return to Montenau, the path leads you past the monastery. An old country house built by the Antwerp merchant Grisar just a few years before the outbreak of the First World War.