Outdoor PitstopWalking route · Hellenthal · Updated on 14 November 2026
GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique walk
GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique is a walk of 49.2 km from Hellenthal. Along the way you'll find 145 benches, 5 water fountains and refill points, 9 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
- ± 6:10 h per stage
- ↑ 849 m · ↓ 1,257 m
- Hard per stage
- From A to B
- National route
- Colour of the signs
Pick a stage to see the pitstops per kilometre. Along the way you'll find 145 benches, 5 water fountains and refill points, 9 public toilets and 2 bike pumps.
Follow these steps in the appThe route with the water points, toilets 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.
Museum
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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
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
Stages (2)
Elevation and terrain
- Up
- ↑ 849 m
- Down
- ↓ 1,257 m
- Highest point
- 659 m
- Lowest point
- 187 m
- 5-10% slope · 11.6 km
- 10-15% slope · 2.6 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: 35.8 km
- Path: 7.6 km
- Street: 5.8 km
- Road: 5 km
- Footpath: 1.4 km
- Busy road: 500 m
- Stairs: 6 stairs
- Cycleway: 225 m
Surfaces
49.2 km in total- Asphalt: 15.4 km
- Gravel: 12.8 km
- Unpaved: 9.6 km
- Paved: 1.5 km
- Natural: 407 m
- Unknown: 17.1 km
About the walking route GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique
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 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 849 m in total and descend 1,257 m. There are 6 flights of steps along the way. Allow ± 6:10 h per stage, without breaks. Per stage the level is hard.
What paths do you walk on?
The longest part is track (35.8 km), path (7.6 km) and street (5.8 km). Of the surface, 15.4 km asphalt and 12.8 km gravel. For 17.1 km the surface is not known.
Pitstops along the way
Within 100 metres of the route there are 145 benches, 5 water fountains and refill points, 9 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 · 868 m 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 · 1 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
Dyon de Jong / Jan GoemansMemorial · 9.7 km from the route - 18
Couven-MuseumMuseum · 935 m from the route - 19
Labyrint DrielandenpuntAttraction · 190 m from the route - 20
ElisenbrunnenAttraction · 719 m from the route - 21
International Newspaper MuseumMuseum · 1.2 km from the route - 22
Château de BroichCastle · 7.5 km from the route - 23
Château de StreversdorpCastle · 7.8 km from the route - 24
MarschiertorAttraction · 116 m from the route - 25
Burg OurenCastle · 138 m from the route
Explore more
More walks around Hellenthal
Frequently asked questions
How long is GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique?
GR 56 Sentiers de l'Est de la Belgique is 49.2 km long, in 2 parts of 24.6 km on average. Allow ± 6:10 h per part 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 per stage, with 425 m per stage of climbing.
Are there toilets along this route?
Yes, there are 9 public toilets within 100 m of the route.
Can you fill up with water along this route?
Yes, there are 5 water fountains and refill points within 100 m of the route.
What is there to see along this route?
Along the way you pass Erlebnismuseum Lernort Natur, Tour Baudouin and Rotes Haus.
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
