You don't need to go far from home to discover interesting places. Hautes Fagnes in Belgium is a place like that, and it is definitely worth a visit if you are a nature lover like I am. The vast plateau is situated partly in Belgium, partly in Germany. Some of it is even protected as a nature reserve. The Hautes Fagnes are covered in moors and marshland usually encountered in more northerly regions or higher altitudes. Due to cold climate, particularly wet, and the composition of its soil, the flora and fauna is quite extraordinary for our region.
Muriel, our host and guide tells us about the area, and how the season's subtle changes transform everything, dress the nature with wonderful artifacts, colour the trees and the grass, and create all different atmospheres.
We chose to go in autumn, but we just missed the colourful trees. Only a few leaves remain on the trees, torn down by the powerful autumn winds, and they are already brown. Winter is around the corner. The rain pours down from the blue-grey clouds, without ever stopping. After some hours in the action, we have no doubt as to what the word soaked really means. To wrap up a long walk fighting both wind and rain, we are grateful for some glühwein at Baraque Michel. They rent out cross-country skis here, an idea for a next trip?
Photos Fagnes
Photos Fagnes
