De bijzondere natuur van de Hoge Venen
De Hoge Venen zijn een voor West Europa uniek hoogveen gebied.
Het is er in elk seizoen mooi en bijzonder, of het nu gaat om het vroege voorjaar met zijn wilde narcissen, de zomer met een grote verscheidenheid aan wilde bloemen, waaronder orchideeën, de herfst met zijn mooie kleuren van het veengras en de bomen, of natuurlijk de winter, waarin vaak een royale hoeveelheid sneeuw valt.
In de Hoge Venen komen bijzondere dier- en plantensoorten voor, er is bijvoorbeeld nog een (kleine) populatie korhoenders, uniek in West Europa en er zijn inmiddels drie roedels wolven en er komen wilde katten voor. Onze cottage is naar deze wilde katten vernoemd.
What to do and see in the area
The unique nature of the High Fens
The High Fens are a unique raised bog area in Western Europe, and it is beautiful and special here in every season! Whether it's early spring with its wild daffodils, summer with a wide variety of wild flowers, including orchids, autumn with its beautiful colours of moor grass and trees, or of course winter, when there is often a generous amount of snowfall.
The High Fens are home to some unusual animal and plant species. For example, there is still a (small) population of black grouse, unique in Western Europe, and there are now three wolf packs and there are a few wild cats. Our cottage is named after these wild cats.
Enjoying the outdoors
There are plenty of walking opportunities right from Wild Cat Cottage, ranging from an hour-long stroll to a full and challenging day hike. We have walking maps and descriptions at the B&B that you can borrow, and we are happy to provide you with advice.
Furthermore, it is a great area for cycling. It is, of course, a paradise for mountain bikers and gravel bikers, and there are several international bike events in the area. However, because cycle paths have been constructed on former railway lines, there is also plenty to enjoy for less athletic cyclists. The Vennbahn is certainly not the only one, but it is the best known of these cycle paths. You cycle through the East Cantons and the Eifel to Luxembourg or Monschau or Aachen, without traffic and without any significant differences in altitude. The Vennbahn, which passes through the most beautiful parts of Belgium, was named the most beautiful long-distance cycle route in Europe in 2014 for good reason!
Winter sports?
When there is enough snow, there are plenty of opportunities for winter sports here. You can go cross-country skiing at various locations in the Sourbrodt area, and in Ovifat, less than a 5-minute drive from Wild Cat Cottage, you can also go downhill skiing and sledging.
You can also rent snowshoes nearby and go for a walk. This is fun to do and highly recommended when the snow is so deep that walking that walking is no longer a viable option.
In the Monschau-Eifel region, there are plenty more possibilities to practice winter sports, provided there is enough snow!
And schedule a day of culture in between!
Spend a couple of hours in Monschau.
It's only a good 20 minutes by car, but you can also make your way there by bicycle! In addition to the Museum Das Rote Haus (the mansion of a textile baron), you will also find several nice shops, including a coffee roastery, a tea shop and a mustard shop. You can also visit the mustard factory, or book a package deal that includes a tour and a dinner featuring mustard as an important ingredient.
Or, during your stroll through this charming town with its many old half-timbered houses, you can take a break at one of the numerous outdoor cafés. (Try the mustard soup!)
And how about Aachen, Trier or a tour of a mine?
Or visit Aachen Cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the unique museum in the former Ordensburg Vogelsang, or one of the various museums that offer insight into the industrial past of North Rhine-Westphalia.
In addition, you could consider a trip to Trier, Maastricht or Liège, or a visit to one of the mines in this area, such as the Schieferstollen (slate) in Recht or the coal mine in Blegny.
Or...
Useful links for planning your holiday in the High Fens
Websites van natuurparkcentra & natuurorganisaties:
Natuurcentrum Haus Ternell
Natuurcentra Hoge Venen-Eifel (de)
Natuurparkcentrum Botrange
Wildgehege Hellenthal (roofvogelstation en wildpark)
Patrimoine Nature (alleen Franstalig)
Wintersport in Oost België
Goede websites voor fiets- en wandelroutes:
Ostbelgien wandelpagina
Ardennen wandelen
Wandelingen in de gemeente Monschau
Fietsen
Ostbelgien fietspagina
Fietsen in de gemeente Monschau