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From the monument opposite Lanaye church, Place du Roi Albert, park directly in front of the square (alternatively, there are half a dozen parking spaces available just after the bridge over the canal).
(S/E) Turn left onto the tree-lined avenue and cross the Albert Canal. Take the tarmac road that climbs to the left.
(1) The road, now paved, makes a hairpin turn to the right. Continue straight ahead on the path and enter the Montagne Saint-Pierre site. Several cellars dug into the wall open onto the path. Continue along the path to the end (fence) and take the stairs down to the left onto the path below. Take it to the right and then, at the fork, go up to the right onto the narrow path wedged between a large grassy embankment (on the right) and a wood (on the left).
Halfway up the hill: view of the valley and the CBR cement factory. Continue climbing; the path enters the vegetation, becomes very steep and ends with a few steps leading to the fields.
(2) Follow the dirt track that starts here and cross the plateau in a straight line until you reach, after a descent, a larger track lined with a row of fir trees.
(3) Turn right and, after a few metres, take the path that branches off to the right. Go through the small gate and continue across the meadow (there is a barn carved into the rock on the right) to reach the other end. Go through the gate and take the gravel path on the left. Follow it down to its intersection with a tarmac road, which you take to the right, below the path you have just left. Go straight up the concrete path.
(4) Before reaching the top of the hill, take the small path on the left which descends in a straight line between two hedges to the river (the Geer). Follow the stream for 200 metres, cross the small bridge and rejoin the tarmac road. Turn right and continue to the end, in the centre of the village. Then turn right into Rue du Garage until you reach the bridge.
(5) Turn left before the bridge onto the small path that runs alongside the stream. Follow it until it intersects with Rue du Fort.
(6) From there, you can reach Fort Eben-Emael by crossing the bridge.
(7) Alternative route(see practical information). Retrace your steps.
(6) Turn right onto the path along the stream and continue along Rue Wérihet, which passes behind several housing estates before joining the main road (N619). Turn right and continue for 200 m, cross the road and turn left onto Rue Avergat, which runs diagonally. At the end of the street, take the path on the right that leads directly to the bridge.
(8) Climb the stairs leading to the bridge. Cross to the other side of the bridge halfway across (protected crossing) and descend the stairs at the other end. Continue along the stream to Rue Brugstraat. Turn right, cross the stream and turn right again into Rue Hubertusstraat. Follow this road to the crossroads and continue straight ahead into Pruisstraat. As this road turns left, take the path (steps) that climbs up opposite.
(9) This path emerges onto a wider path (turnstile) in the Netherlands, which you take to the right and follow for about 700 metres: this path (GR®®) describes a long curve to the left and then to the right.
(10) As it runs alongside a meadow, the path then turns at a right angle to the right (back into Belgian territory, still on theGR®®). 400m further on (picnic table), at the Ferme de Caster (under renovation), continue straight on along the same path, which leads back into the woods.
(11) When you come out of the woods, turn left onto the path between two pastures. As soon as you enter the woods, turn left onto the path that descends.
(12) Continue along this path for about 100 metres and you will suddenly come to a deep, narrow gorge, which is well worth a look, as is the enormous cave dug into the rock.
(13) Retrace your steps.
(12) Turn left onto the path that leads back, descends and continues downhill to join the road at the canal.
(14) At the bottom of the path, turn right onto the road running alongside the canal, then left after a large villa, to reach the towpath (canal giving access to the Lanaye lock on the Meuse). Continue towards the lock.
Shortly before the lock, before a concrete fence, join the road (there is no access to the road at the foot of the lock). Take the road that passes over the lock and go around it.
(15) Halfway along the lock basin, take the small path on the left which winds its way up between the canal and a backwater of the Meuse. It soon joins a concrete path which descends to the village of Lanaye. At the entrance to the village, keep left into Rue du Village, then right into Rue Derrière les Haies. Continue straight on to Place du Roi Albert and return to the car park (S/E).
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