Baraque Michel
Baraque Michel (the German name Michelshütte is not in use today) is a hostel in the High Fens belonging to Jalhay in Belgium , which was founded in 1811/1812 by Michel Henri Schmitz, a stonemason from the Rhineland . A restaurant with an attached bakery is currently operated in the buildings.
history
After Michel Henri Schmitz died in 1819, his family moved into the hut and expanded it as a hostel for travelers. this building was demolished around 1900. After 1865 a new and much larger building was erected across the street, as the new road Eupen - Malmedy (now N68), which ran about 100 meters further south, now had the old hostel facing the new road.
From 1815 on, the Prussian border with the Kingdom of the United Netherlands and from 1830 to 1920 with Belgium ran here . At that time, this was the highest point in Belgium, for this reason, but also for military purposes, a lookout tower was built in 1893. Due to dilapidation, it was demolished in 1972.
The Fischbach chapel, built in 1831, is in the immediate vicinity. It was built on the initiative of the Malmedy industrialist Henri-Toussaint Fischbach. There used to be beacons in the tower of the chapel to help hikers find their way around. Until 1865, the residents of the Baraque Michel rang the chapel bell every evening to show stray people the way. This enabled around 120 people to be saved in the 19th century. In 1885 the chapel was enlarged.
location
Baraque Michel is located directly on the Eupen – Malmedy road (N68), 1.5 kilometers northwest of the junction to Botrange . At 674 meters, Baraque Michel is the third highest point in the Fens, after the Botrange (694 m) located about 4 kilometers south-east and the Mont Rigi elevation at 680 m OP .
tourism
Baraque Michel is the starting point for hikes in the High Fens. From Baraque Michel there are many Venn hiking trails (such as Les Wez , Poleur Venn , the source of the Hillbach or the Grande Vequée ) that are connected to Mont Rigi and Botrange. Some lead to the Botrange Nature Park Center or the Ternell Nature Center .
From Baraque Michel cross-country trails with a length of 3, 5, 12, 17 and 25 km are signposted. If the snow depth is sufficient, a fee-based rental shop is open on site. Snowshoeing is also possible.
Baraque Michel as a broadcast location
From 1981 to 1984, a local station called Radio Benelux (BNL) was housed in the attic of the Baraque Michel , which used the exposed location to broadcast programs specifically to Germany. In 2008 and 2009, a station called RealFM used the location with the same goal.
Legend
There is a legend that is still popular around Baraque Michel:
“When Michel Schmitz was completely exhausted when crossing the High Fens and got lost, he made the decision that if he should avoid death, he would build a refuge for travelers at this point. He marked this point with a stick and immediately afterwards he mysteriously found his way again and then built a hut there. "
Web links
- La Baraque Michel , website of the inn
- Ski Baraque Michel , information about current snow quality and ski rental
Individual evidence
- ↑ Baraque Michel ( Memento of the original from October 29, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Hohes Venn-Eifel Nature Park
- ^ Map of the German Empire, 455. Eupen. 1879
- ↑ Presentation of the Fischbach chapel on Waimes.be
- ↑ Ski Baraque Michel , accessed December 25, 2019.
Coordinates: 50 ° 31 ′ 7 ″ N , 6 ° 3 ′ 45 ″ E