Outdoor PitstopWalking route · Hellenthal · Updated on 14 November 2026
GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique | Parcours principal : Sentier des Frontières walk
GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique | Parcours principal : Sentier des Frontières is a walk of 49.2 km from Hellenthal. Along the way you'll find 95 benches, 4 water fountains and refill points, 6 public toilets and 2 bike pumps.
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The route step by step
From start to finish, with what you pass along the way and the distance in between.
- 49.2 km
- ± 12:20 h
- ↑ 822 m · ↓ 1,093 m
- Hard
- From A to B
- National route
- Colour of the signs
This route is in pieces in OpenStreetMap, so there are no kilometres per pitstop. Along the way you'll find 95 benches, 4 water fountains and refill points, 6 public toilets and 2 bike pumps.
Follow these steps in the appThe route with the pitstops and sights within 100 m of it.
9 sights along the way
In the order you pass them. With the Outdoor Pitstop app you hear their story on the spot. 1 more along the route are on the map.
Observation tower
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Photo: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsMemorial
Memorial
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Photo: Steffen Heinz Caronna · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsCastle
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Photo: Frans Berkelaar · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsAttraction
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Photo: Ziko van Dijk · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsObservation tower
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Photo: ArthurMcGill · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsMuseum
Observation tower
Elevation and terrain
- Up
- ↑ 822 m
- Down
- ↓ 1,093 m
- Highest point
- 659 m
- Lowest point
- 319 m
- 5-10% slope · 10.6 km
- 10-15% slope · 2.5 km
- 15-20% slope · 494 m
- 20% slope or steeper · 988 m
- 6 stairs
Elevation from Copernicus GLO-30 (European Union and ESA), smoothed.
produced using Copernicus WorldDEM-30 © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018 provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA; all rights reserved
Way types
49.2 km in total- Track: 33.1 km
- Path: 5.6 km
- Road: 4.6 km
- Street: 3.7 km
- Footpath: 1 km
- Stairs: 6 stairs
- Busy road: 350 m
- Cycleway: 225 m
Surfaces
49.2 km in total- Asphalt: 11.5 km
- Gravel: 11.2 km
- Unpaved: 7.6 km
- Paved: 1.2 km
- Natural: 407 m
- Unknown: 17.1 km
About the walking route GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique | Parcours principal : Sentier des Frontières
Updated on 14 November 2026, with data from OpenStreetMap, the AHN and Copernicus.
Where do you walk?
GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique | Parcours principal : Sentier des Frontières is a walking route of 49.2 km that starts in Hellenthal. It does not end where it starts.
How hard is the route?
You climb 822 m in total and descend 1,093 m. There are 6 flights of steps along the way. Allow ± 12:20 h, without breaks. The level is hard.
What paths do you walk on?
The longest part is track (33.1 km), path (5.6 km) and road (4.6 km). Of the surface, 11.5 km asphalt and 11.2 km gravel. For 17.1 km the surface is not known.
Pitstops along the way
Within 100 metres of the route there are 95 benches, 4 water fountains and refill points, 6 public toilets and 2 bike pumps. The Outdoor Pitstop app navigates you there.
Walks nearby
5Sights nearby
Within 10 km of the route, best known first.
- 1
Aachen CathedralAttraction · 5 km from the route - 2
Kasteel VaalsbroekCastle · 2.4 km from the route - 3
Huis BloemendalCastle · 2.1 km from the route - 4
Kasteel LemiersCastle · 4.3 km from the route - 5
Aachen Town HallAttraction · 5 km from the route - 6
Hoeve OverhuizenCastle · 7.1 km from the route - 7
Kasteel NijswillerCastle · 7.2 km from the route - 8
Kasteel De BongardCastle · 7.7 km from the route - 9
Kasteel GoedenraadCastle · 9.2 km from the route - 10
Geologisch monument ZandsteenblokkenMemorial · 4.7 km from the route - 11
Museum VaalsMuseum · 2.1 km from the route - 12
De Schat van SimpelveldMuseum · 9.2 km from the route - 13
Tumuli VijlenerbosArchaeological site · 3 km from the route - 14
HeimansgroeveViewpoint · 6.4 km from the route - 15
Motte EysArchaeological site · 10 km from the route - 16
VliegermonumentMemorial · 830 m from the route - 17
Couven-MuseumMuseum · 5.1 km from the route - 18
Labyrint DrielandenpuntAttraction · 190 m from the route - 19
International Newspaper MuseumMuseum · 5 km from the route - 20
ElisenbrunnenAttraction · 5.1 km from the route - 21
Château de BroichCastle · 7.5 km from the route - 22
Château de StreversdorpCastle · 7.8 km from the route - 23
Burg OurenCastle · 138 m from the route - 24
Burg ReulandCastle · 2.3 km from the route - 25
Aussichtspunkt BieleiViewpoint · 2.4 km from the route
Explore more
More walks around Hellenthal
Frequently asked questions
How long is GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique | Parcours principal : Sentier des Frontières?
GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique | Parcours principal : Sentier des Frontières is 49.2 km long. Allow ± 12:20 h of walking: 4.5 km an hour and 10 minutes more per 100 metres of climbing, without breaks.
Is this route a circular walk?
No, the route starts and ends at different spots.
Where does this route start?
The route starts in Hellenthal.
How hard is this route?
Hard, with 822 m of climbing.
Are there toilets along this route?
Yes, there are 6 public toilets within 100 m of the route.
Can you fill up with water along this route?
Yes, there are 4 water fountains and refill points within 100 m of the route.
What is there to see along this route?
Along the way you pass Observation tower, Highest point of the Netherlands and Europa Monument.
Can I download this route as a GPX file?
Yes. Sign in with your Outdoor Pitstop account and choose Download GPX at the top of this page: 10 routes a month for free, unlimited with Pro.
Starting point
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Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors
