Knife, Spade and Plank

The Belgian Voer region borders the South Limburg Mergelland and has the same characteristics. A hilly landscape with beautiful stream valleys, steep slopes and rich soil consisting of fertile loess, flint and limestone. On the steep southern slopes, original oak-birch forests have been replaced by plantations of beech, larch and spruce, which has encouraged the presence of bracken and honeysuckle. Typical for this type of forest are the medlar and the elderberry, which you will see in abundance here. Lower on the slope, oak-hornbeam forests in particular thrive, in which vines and ivy also flourish. In sunny places, marjoram and elderberry grow, typical'southerners\\\' that attract the vineyard snail, the famous'escargot de Bourgogne\\\'. The lonely buzzard or kestrel that hangs motionless to 'pray' are easier to spot than the shy deer, foxes or badgers that have their habitat here. However, an observant nature lover can also find tracks and changes in the forest of these animals. The lovely rolling surroundings make you feel like you are in paradise. In the romantic village centers, the church still stands in the middle. The hawthorn hedges, paternoster of chapels and field crosses, old farms, typical half-timbered houses, castles with associated estates, orchards, and the unforgettable panoramas, have an irresistible appeal in every season. Cycling through the Voer region means cycling over hills, to peaks and valleys. Park the car at the attractive Afspanning De Swaen in's Gravenvelden, which is halfway along the Aachen-Liège stagecoach route. The adjacent chapel and the cast-iron water pump make you feel like you are in a distant past. Delicious regional beers are served on the inviting terrace. You can order a drink with confidence, as Belgian Limburgish is spoken here and there is no language barrier. So before or after your bike ride you have no choice but to surrender yourself to Burgundian hospitality. Once you have cycled 6.5 km, you will pass a real sight. Eijsden Castle is at the top of the Dutch UNESCO Monuments. The historic castle consists of two right-angled wings connected by a corner tower. There is a gatehouse with a courtyard and a park that is freely accessible. The Meschermolen is also beautiful. The upper water mill from 1699 was used as a flour mill and it is the first water mill on the Voer stream. The mill served for centuries and was only closed down in the early 1950s. The mill was then no longer needed, because an electric hammer mill was installed in the village. The mill was restored and made operational again between 1996 and 1998. The mill can be visited by appointment. In the smallest village in the Voer region, Sint-Pieters-Voeren, you can refresh your knowledge of history with a visit to the Commanderie. Until the French Revolution it belonged to the German knighthood of Alden Biesen. When the complex came into private hands after the French Revolution, it began to decay. It has been state-owned since 1971 and a thorough renovation began that lasted 16 years. The complex consists of a main building, a farm, stables and a gatehouse. At the bottom of the gatehouse is the Trompeter's House where a café-restaurant is now located. The oldest part of the fortress is the L-shaped wing, topped by a tower. A number of ponds were added to the original ring moats around the castle, where trout (regional product), sturgeon and eel are still bred.