Montagne Saint-Pierre: the essentials!

Car park at the bottom of Rue du Garage, just after the cable-stayed bridge over the canal (coming from the centre of Lanaye).

(S/E) From the car park, with your back to the canal, head down to the foot of the slope via the road and turn right onto the path, which is partly equipped with rough steps and climbs the slope diagonally. Pass the first gate and walk along the foot of the cliff, which is partly pierced by old mining galleries. Pass a second gate and complete the second part of the climb up the slope to reach a dirt track at the top.

(1) Turn right onto this track which runs alongside the fields. After 300 m, it curves to the left and ends a little further on.

(2) Take the path on the right which leads into the copse, winds for about 250 m and leads to a turret of the fort offering a magnificent view of the Lanaye locks.

(3) Continue along the farm track, which makes a 90° left-hand bend opposite the rear entrance gate to the fort site. Continue along this same dirt track and ignore the pedestrian access (turnstile) a little further on, staying on the farm track to complete the circuit around the fort. The farm track soon leaves the plateau and the fields, making a wide bend to the right and gradually descending towards Eben-Emael Fort and the Geer valley.

(4) At the fort, continue towards the Geer to reach the road running alongside it and follow it to the left until you reach the bridge. Cross the bridge.

(5) Immediately after the bridge, turn left onto the path running alongside the stream and follow it to the next road (Rue du Garage). Turn right onto this road and follow it for about a hundred metres, then turn left into Rue de l’Aumont. As this road begins to curve to the right, continue straight on into Rue de la Benchet, which later becomes Rue du Vieux Moulin. Just past the modern houses, the landscape becomes wooded.

(6) About twenty metres past the first house (No. 48), take the small path on the left leading towards the Geer. Cross the bridge, then the turnstile, and follow the stream. After 150 m, the path takes a 90° left turn and moves away from the stream, heading up towards a concrete road.
Once on the road, make a quick first turn left then right to take the small path that climbs above the road and soon joins a gravel track.
Take this path to the left, follow the wide bend to the right, pass in front of the mushroom farm and take the path opposite. This enters the nature reserve, runs alongside an old quarry criss-crossed with mining tunnels, then emerges onto a farm track facing a trident-shaped crossroads.

(7) Take the left-hand fork to gradually climb back up towards the cultivated plateau. At the junction in the middle of the fields, continue straight on towards the pointed wooded edge. Go down the few steps to reach a small wooded valley.

(8) Pass the viewpoint overlooking the Meuse and begin the descent down the slope to reach the path running horizontally between the foot of the slope and the canal. Follow it to the cable-stayed bridge and the car park (S/E).

Alternative car park: in the centre of Lanaye, Place du Roi Albert.
Alternative starting point: Eben-Emael Fort car park (4)

Refreshments and light bites:
- Brasserie Bifana: opposite the ferry landing stage between Lanaye and Eijsden (3, Rue des Battes, Lanaye).
- Café Place du Roi Albert, Lanaye.
- Moulin Loverix, opposite the entrance to the Fort d'Eben-Emael.

Montagne Saint-Pierre Nature Reserve with numerous information boards.
Visits to Eben-Emael Fort at weekends.