Walking through the hills near Maastricht

You walk part of the route through the narrow, elongated Savelsbos. In this hillside forest you mainly see deciduous trees such as sessile oak, beech, common maple and horse chestnut. Under the canopy of these trees you cool off quickly after a climb. Savelsbos is known for the white flowering of the rare wild garlic, an onion-like plant that blooms in the spring. There are also some beautiful villages on your route where you can see the characteristic half-timbered houses that remind you of holidays abroad. In Eckelrade you pass the Saint Bartholomew's Church. This marl church stands on a church hill and originally dates from the thirteenth century. The white Rijckholt Castle is also an attraction. The residential tower dates back to the fifteenth century. A little later you re-dike the Savelsbos.