Discover Amel: Hiking Trails, Forests and History

Amel combines distinctive hiking trails, tranquil forest landscapes, historic memorial sites and a variety of activities. Those planning a trip can choose between outdoor exercise, insights into history and shared experiences. These different themes make Amel a destination for anyone who does not want to limit their stay to just one type of holiday.

Hiking along the Amel and across the watershed

The GR 56 begins in the village of Amel and follows a hiking trail along the Amel to Valender. It also passes through Heppenbach and Hepscheid along the watershed between different river basins: on one side is the Meuse basin with the Amel and Ourthe, and on the other the Rhine basin with the Our and Moselle. This geographical feature gives the hike its own distinctive theme.

The bird nature trail leads through the village, across meadows and through forests, as well as along the stream; bird silhouettes mark the route. The forest nature trail has a different focus: eleven nature-art installations and four additional art installations with an educational background accompany visitors along the way. Its aim is to bring people closer to the beauty, diversity and vulnerability of the forest.

Cycling along the former railway track

Amel also has a clearly defined route section for cycling tours. The 18-kilometre section of the RAVeL/Vennbahn route in the municipality of Amel runs along the former railway track of the Vennbahn. Information boards along the route explain the history of the former railway line and the nature reserves it passes through. This makes it possible to combine outdoor activity with regional history and landscape themes, without needing to plan separate days devoted exclusively to culture or nature.

Historic Sites and Memories

The oldest surviving part of Amel is considered to be the historically significant ensemble comprising the church, market cross and St. Anthony’s Chapel. At its core, St. Anthony’s Chapel dates back to a former chapel from the 14th to 15th century. The market cross dates from 1722. In the chapel, Saint Sebastian is depicted in the stained-glass windows, the liturgical vestments and on the main altar; the main altar is decorated with 18th-century wooden sculptures.

Another special memorial site is located in Wereth, in the municipality of Amel. The Wereth Memorial commemorates all Black soldiers who fought in Europe during the Second World War. It is considered Europe’s only war memorial dedicated to African-American soldiers of the Second World War. Those interested in local history and the memory of wartime will find a specific focus here away from classic tourist attractions.

A firmly established annual tradition is the traditional Hubertus Market. It takes place every year on 11 November. This date may play a role in trip planning if you would deliberately like to combine your visit to Amel with a traditional market experience.

Active Experiences for Shared Days

In addition to hiking and cycling, Amel offers activities for jointly planned action days. The Actionzone offers Arrow Tag, Bubble Soccer and paintball. The two Quest Games, “Magic Kingdom” and “Special Agent”, combine elements of a treasure hunt, GPS geocaching and a live escape game with modern augmented-reality technology to create a GPS outdoor team game. This allows you to switch between nature trails, historical themes and playful challenges when choosing your activities.

For everyday supplies, Amel has, among other things, a bakery, a butcher’s shop and a grocery store. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore first consider which priorities should shape your stay: hikes on the GR 56, a cycling tour along the RAVeL/Vennbahn route, nature art and forest observation, historic sites or an active group experience.

For further comparison, you can also visit the pages on Stavelot, Burdinne, Jalhay, Baelen, Trooz, Weismes and Limbourg.

To the higher-level travel overview: Liège.