The Charlemagne Spring

A circuit in the heart of nature where, according to legend, Charlemagne made a spring gush forth from under his horse's hoof and then built a chapel on the site of the current Rabas chapel.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.30 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 179 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 178 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 351 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 216 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Starting point : Villers Bettnach Abbey.
From Vigy, follow the D52 to Saint-Hubert. Turn left and continue on the D52 to Villers Bettnach Abbey.
Park in the small car park on the right near the sign describing the circuits.

Yellow markings and directional signs, circuit no. 2 (Charlemagne's Spring).

(S/E) Follow the road, leaving the abbey on your left.

(1) Leave the D52 by turning right onto the forest road. Pass near the Étang des Moines (on your right) where there is a table and two benches by the pond.

(2) Leave the forest road by turning right (crossing a stream) and follow a sometimes narrow path leading to the Fontaine du Loup (a spring with a small water retention basin, ideal for a break, with tables and benches).

(3) Leave the forest road by turning right onto a path called "La Haie du Tremble".
If you continue straight ahead, you can join loop No. 1, La Voie de 60.

(4) Follow the signs for Rabas along Chemin de La Haie du Tremble.
you can turn left to join loop no. 7, Le Chemin des Ecoliers. This is a 3.8 km connection.

(5) Leave the forest house on your right and continue straight ahead on the small path along the edge of the woods.

(6) At the intersection of the path and the forest road, turn right to descend towards Befey. (The path is rutted, so take care.

(7) Leave the road at the exit of Befey by turning right towards Source Charlemagne.
You can refill your water bottles here; the water is drinkable and the locals fill up their jerry cans and containers here!
Continue along the path that runs alongside the road to the left of the fountain

(8) To visit the Rabas Chapel, cross the road and then return to the path. Continue towards Saint-Hubert until you reach the road connecting Befey to Saint-Hubert.
On the left, passing in front of the chapel, you can join loop no. 4, Le Chemin de la Reine (towards Le Pré Guérez). This is a 1.4 km connection.

(9) In Saint-Hubert, leave the main road by turning right onto Chemin des Gros Trembles. This road is enclosed between two large embankments nicknamed "Le Canyon" and climbs towards "Femme Morte"
Follow the yellow markings carefully, as at one point you will need to leave the path on the left and head towards a forest path at a place called "Femme Morte"

(10) Turn left onto the forest track called the "Femme Morte" descent.

(11) At the road, turn right onto the D52 and follow it to Villers Bettnach Abbey (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 231 m - Abbaye de Villers-Bettnach
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 237 m - Intersection D52 - forest road
  3. 2 : km 0.76 - alt. 250 m - Towards the Fontaine aux Loups
  4. 3 : km 2.35 - alt. 345 m - Forest road junction - Road to Rabas
  5. 4 : km 2.59 - alt. 343 m - Access via Charleville under the woods to loop 7
  6. 5 : km 4.28 - alt. 324 m - Lallier Forest House
  7. 6 : km 4.94 - alt. 318 m - Intersection of path and forest road towards Befey
  8. 7 : km 6.47 - alt. 250 m - Charlemagne Spring
  9. 8 : km 6.86 - alt. 240 m - Rabas Chapel link to loop 4
  10. 9 : km 7.99 - alt. 227 m - Saint-Hubert, D52 crossroads - Ch des Gros Trembles
  11. 10 : km 9.78 - alt. 233 m - Intersection of the forest road and Chemin de la Femme Morte
  12. 11 : km 10.38 - alt. 216 m - Intersection, forest road - D52
  13. S/E : km 11.3 - alt. 231 m - Abbaye de Villers-Bettnach

Notes

From point 3, you can continue on to loop No. 1, La Voie de 60. "Voie de 60"

From point 4, you can continue on loop No. 7, Le Chemin des Ecoliers. "Chemin des écoliers"

From point 8, you can continue on loop No. 4, Le Chemin de la Reine. "Chemin de la Reine"

Water point at the "Fontaine Charlemagne": drinking water.

You can use the table and benches at the "Fontaine du Loup" and "l’Étang des Moines".

In wet weather, some sections are muddy and require caution.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Fami
Fami

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on 19 September 2025.

Beautiful forest! 13 km walk (according to my smartwatch). Points of interest: a single spot with a panoramic view of the surrounding hills, a pleasant walk through a place called Bevey (in the sunshine), the Charlemagne spring and, at the end, remarkable trees stretching for 100 metres.
Be careful at the start of the hike, as there is a slightly tricky climb (metal duckboards) that is very slippery. The ground was a little damp, even though it hadn't rained for several days. The final stretch is along the main road for about 600 metres.

I imagine that this is not advisable during the hunting season. We came across some hunters who were clearly eager to resume their activity...

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EmmanuelB57
EmmanuelB57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Superbly marked trail. GPS is not necessary.
90 per cent forest
The last 500 metres along the road, where we didn't see a single car, didn't spoil anything
Hike completed in 3 hours (excluding breaks).
A hike worth doing. 😉

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Caroboiteamail
Caroboiteamail

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely trail through the forest, with streams in several places. We didn't see many people. Perfect for us

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philipperob
philipperob
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Mostly shaded walk, so pleasant in warm weather.
The interest is limited.
The Charlemagne spring is disappointing.

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Christecol
Christecol

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the forest where very large hornbeams grow.

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fabrice b
fabrice b

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route to take in spring or summer

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baladesetrandos
baladesetrandos

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike in the forest that was very welcome on this scorching hot day, especially the Charlemagne spring where the water is drinkable and cool, perfect for refilling our water bottles. The main attraction for us was climbing the Saint-Hubert "canyon" to discover the tree of the year 2022, which is easy to spot: it's written just below.

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cossin
cossin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike, but be careful as it can be a bit slippery in rainy weather
did not encounter anyone during the hike from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m

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Hub57
Hub57
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in this beautiful wood, with the added bonus of encountering a remarkable tree that we voted for. Follow the yellow-marked route, circuit 2.

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valeriede M
valeriede M

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent hike worth repeating, varied landscape.
Drinking water can be obtained from the Charlemagne spring.
Follow the yellow markings throughout the route.
You can also follow the route in the opposite direction.
Route number 2 created locally.
I recommend it

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LEPETITDIDIER
LEPETITDIDIER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful forest trail throughout the entire route
Probably a little less enjoyable in rainy weather, as several areas are particularly muddy.

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nolive73
nolive73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, varied hike, even if it is mainly in the forest.
No difficulty in finding your way, as there are yellow and white markings all along the route...

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Misspression
Misspression
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent hike with varied landscapes. Also ideal in hot weather. The start may seem difficult for the less experienced (steep climb) but it is short and the paths are very pleasant.
Drinking water is available at the Charlemagne spring.

The only downside is the end, with a short section on the main road.

We are a group of four hikers with very different levels of fitness, and everyone was very enthusiastic and satisfied with this outing!

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vincervice57000
vincervice57000

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Impeccable, very accurate description...

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cocodu57
cocodu57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk in the forest.
I did it backwards and didn't regret it.
I followed the signposts and they were excellent.
There's no chance of taking the wrong path.

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