Route des Châteaux à Tongeren

Parking along Sint-Truidersteenweg (note: parking disc required on weekdays on part of the road) or on Beukenbergweg (behind the VIIO institute) in Tongeren.

(S/E) From Beukenbergweg, cross Legioenenlaan and follow it to the left for about 100 metres. Turn right onto the straight path that leads diagonally through the woods (do not take the path downhill just before it!).

(1) As the path begins to run alongside an embankment (on the left) and then approaches a path on the left, take the metal staircase to reach the start of a path overlooking the one you have just left. Follow it to the end: it goes around an agricultural institute and its greenhouses and ends at a land consolidation path.

(2) Take it to the right for about a hundred metres and turn left, directly after the orchard, onto the path running alongside it. The path widens and joins a road at a right angle (Smisberg): turn left towards the village of Piringen and continue to the church.
At the church, turn right into Rue Tomstraat.

(3) At the end of this street, cross straight ahead and keep left at the three-way junction (the right branch leads to Burghoven Castle). Opposite an orchard (and after the plastic greenhouses), the path turns at a right angle. Continue along this path (do not go straight ahead on the paved path!).

(4) At the end of the path, turn left (also onto a concrete path). This path runs alongside a pasture and a field, curves around the edge of a wood and ends (on the left) on an overhanging path.

(5) When you reach the observation tower, turn right onto the path that runs alongside the Herkwinning Nature Reserve, avoiding a large farm and then passing between a large orchard of low-stem trees (on the right) and a copse (on the left). The path makes a wide circular loop around the orchard, which you continue to follow (ignoring the two roads on the left) until you come out, just after a large fruit farm, on the main street of the village of Kolmont (Burchtstraat).

(6) Turn right and walk down Rue Burchstraat to the bottom.

(7) From here, there is a magnificent view of Kolmont Castle (on the right) and the ruins of an old fortified castle (top left). Continue towards the village of Piringen.

(8) After crossing the stream and passing the first houses in Pringen, at the first crossroads, take the concrete path on the left, then left again 100 metres further on. This narrow concrete path winds between the fields (on the right) and the hedgerow (on the left), turning into a partially tree-lined dirt track and continuing to wind for about 1,500 m, where it joins another farm track and ends at a concrete road facing a field.

(9) Before the road, take the swing gate on the left and continue along the tree-lined path (former railway line) until you reach the main road (N20, Hasselt road). Turn right and continue for about 100 metres, then turn right into Rue De Locht.

(10) This street passes in front of an old tower, hidden behind a curtain of trees, then curves to the left. Continue to the next crossroads and turn left into Mulkerstraat. Just after the large shed (on the left), keep to the right to take the straight footpath.

(11) This passes in front of Betho Castle, runs alongside meadows and then makes a circular curve to the left before ending at Legionenlaan, which you cross to reach Beukenbergweg just opposite (S/E).

Some buildings visible from the route (no visits!)

- Burghoven Castle (Kasteel Burghoven) (3).
- Ruins of Kolmont feudal castle (up high, visible through the branches) (7).
- Kolmont Castle (Kasteek van Kolmont) (7).
- Tower of the former Mulken Castle or Templar Tower, 13th century (10).
- Betho Castle (Kasteel van Betho) (11).