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(S/E) Starting from the chapel of Helshoven, a place of pilgrimage with its pretty little garden and statue of Pope John Paul II, the walk follows the route of the old Roman road linking Paris to Cologne via Bavay and Tongeren.
(1) A work of art was erected shortly after the 1 km mark in honour of Tjenne (Jeanne in the local dialect), who was convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1667.
The first few kilometres are the kingdom of the pear.
Next come the vineyards and further on, apple and cherry trees.
Strawberry and redcurrant bushes are rarer.
(4) Shortly before the finish, the route joins the Roman road at the highest point of the hamlet of Helshoven. An artist has erected a work of art there called Helsheaven. It consists of a self-supporting metal base supporting a small house whose walls have been built with logs cut from the countless old cherry trees felled in 2016 after they were infected with the 'little cherry' virus.
Circular through the Limburg orchards starting from Helshoven
Pear, apple and cherry trees, as well as vines, strawberry plants and currant bushes, ensure the wealth and reputation of this part of Limburg's Hesbaye region for its fruit production. There are orchards galore to admire in spring when they are in bloom and later in the season when they are producing fruit.
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 13.05 km -
Average duration: 3h 55 -
Difficulty: Moderate -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 65 m -
Descent: - 67 m -
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Highest point: 91 m -
Lowest point: 50 m
Photos
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 66 m - Helshoven Chapel
- 1 : km 1.22 - alt. 83 m - Tjenne
- 2 : km 3.99 - alt. 61 m - Nieuwmolen
- 3 : km 9.5 - alt. 68 m - Kruiskapel
- 4 : km 12.38 - alt. 89 m - Helsheaven
- S/E : km 13.05 - alt. 66 m - Helshoven Chapel
Notes
There are quite a few benches along the route.
A few picnic tables: behind the chapel at the starting point (S/E), near 'Nieuwmolen' (2), the 'Kruiskapel' (3) and 'Helsheaven' (4).
Worth a visit
Tongeren (Tongres in French) - one of the oldest towns in Belgium - with its basilica, Gallo-Roman museum and statue of Ambiorix on the main square.
Borgloon (Looz in French) is particularly known for its transparent church, a splendid work of art called 'Reading between the lines'.
The two towns merged on 1 January 2025 to form the new municipality of Tongeren-Borgloon.
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