On to the Gold Route: Discover the secrets of the slate mine!

On to the Gold Route: Discover the secrets of the slate mine!

On May 18, 2025, geologist Thomas Servais welcomed around 25 visitors to the slate tunnel museum in Recht. In perfectly mild hiking weather with pleasant temperatures, clouds and sunshine, the group set off on a hike to explore the geological diversity of the region.
The Blaustein Museum, which deals with geological history and slate mining, offers an 800-meter underground course. Here visitors can experience interactive presentations of the geological and mineralogical history as well as the work of the miners. The history of the village of Recht is closely linked to slate mining in the period from the 18th to the 20th century, which is illustrated by various tools and objects in the museum.

Hiking routes and geological discoveries

The hike included three routes, all of which start and end at the Slate Tunnel Museum: the Bluestone Route (8 km), the Gold Route (7.3 km) and the Neolithic Route (11.9 km), which is known as Genusstour 25 by the East Belgium Tourism Agency. Servais led the group on the Gold Route, which is considered a one-way route and takes about two hours. There are numerous information boards along the path that provide information about the different types of rock in Recht and the surrounding area.
An exciting highlight of the Gold Route was sign number nine, which provided information about the gold panners. The group discovered the so-called gold dumps on the so-called Permillenweg, a narrow historical path that drunk young people used to escape the police after the ball. These hills, covered with grass and moss, testify to the times when Romans and possibly Celts wanted gold between Recht and Rodt. However, gold mining is a thing of the past - the gold is no longer available.

Geological treasures and the history of law

During the hike, geologist Jean-Marc Marion presented a geological map of the Rechter area showing different types of rock. The Stavelots massif, one of the oldest rocks in Belgium, is highlighted with colored zones. This massif represents a historical perspective on the region: the sea used to extend into the current area of ​​Recht.

After an educational day, the group leisurely returned to the Schieferstollenmuseum via the Permillenweg. Anyone visiting the museum should bring sturdy shoes and warm clothing to make the underground tour comfortable.
Special features such as the Halloween evening in the mine on October 31st ensure a varied program. To facilitate access for people with disabilities, the mine is accessible to wheelchair users under certain conditions, although without official Access-i certification. It is recommended that you contact the provider to clarify specific accessibility options.

Further information and details about the region as well as activities with the official “Access-i” label can be found on the Visit Wallonia website, which is a source for the geological background and the structure of the Slate Tunnel Museum. For deeper insights into the hike and the Slate Tunnel Museum refer to BRF on this interesting journey of discovery into law.