Top 4 Caves around Vielsalm

The slate quarries of Cahay were located here. The slates of the ‘Pays de Salm’ have long been known and appreciated. For instance, in 1513, the people of Amberloup came here to fetch slates to build their church. A text from 1625 states that “use and the sun harden them to such an extent that the nails used to fasten them are affected by rust, while they (the slates) remain intact”. These very high-quality slates were initially mined in large open-pit mines, which left behind the large pits that we can still see in the landscape. From the second half of the 19th century, the extraction of slate took place via tunnels in the higher-quality layers of the “Thier des Carrières” mountain where you are standing now. The “waste” was dumped in heaps that were subsequently used for all kinds of works (roads, walls, etc.). The large slates with rounded edges are particularly well-known: these are the hérbins, always laid in diagonal lines. They can still be seen on the roofs of old houses in the Pays de Salm. After sawing, the phyllade (schist hardened by (underground) high pressure and temperatures) yielded material for billiard tables, window sills, etc. These slate quarries provided work for numerous laborers in our region. Some were highly specialized, such as the splitters who, after two to three years of practice, were capable of producing slates 3-4 mm thick. (Vielsalm Tourist Office)

Many mine tunnels run underground here. To gain access to the good layers, the Salm miners sometimes dug long tunnels through the hard rock. The resistance of the rock is so great that the tunnels did not need to be supported. They were equipped with rails on which carts brought the blocks coming out of the mine to the surface. The chambers in which the blocks were loosened were very large: it was said that the church of Vielsalm could stand in the largest chamber. The workers carefully loosened the blocks along the natural fractures of the slate. As long as the rock was wet, the blocks split easily; they were therefore covered with wet sacks to keep them “fresh.” Similar galleries, though shorter, were also dug elsewhere to extract coticule, also called “razor stone.” The galleries followed the very narrow and winding veins. To ensure sufficient light, the miners used lamps for a long time that speleologists still use today. (Vielsalm Tourist Office)

Class cycle paths Luxembourg and Belgium

The Vennbahn border tunnel between Belgium and Luxembourg is closed to protect the winter quarters of rare bat species. The path to the tunnel is beautifully designed with bat information boards. The detour of about a kilometer there (and back) on the Belgian side to the gate at the tunnel entrance is worth it. Shortly before the tunnel entrance it suddenly becomes quite cold.

We can't really recommend it. You drive about 1 km off the main path and then end up in front of a gate in front of the tunnel, which is closed. You can save yourself the detour.

there were very tame bunnies around when I was there, very cute

Terrific climate in summer at over 30 °. On the way there in the cool, cooling down is guaranteed. A dream. You have to experience it.

Very well organized gravel tour.