The staircase that made it 700 m

Belgium's highest natural point is 694 m, which is an awkward number.

In 1923, a stone staircase and mound known as the Butte Baltia was built on the summit, adding six metres, so that visitors could stand at a clean 700 m. It's still there and you can still climb it.

There's also the Botrange tower, a 24 m stone observation tower built in 1934, standing next to the café.

So the highest point in Belgium has three heights depending on what you're counting: 694 m of ground, 700 m if you climb the steps, and higher still if you go up the tower. Which puts it in the same category as Denmark's burial mound argument, except Belgium just went ahead and built the thing.

What's actually there

Not a summit in any recognisable sense. Signal de Botrange is the high point of a broad, flat plateau, and the road crosses directly over the top. There's a car park, a café, the tower, the staircase and a marker.

The reason to come is the High Fens around it: a high moorland plateau of peat bog, boardwalks and open heath that looks like nowhere else in Belgium. It's a nature reserve within the High Fens-Eifel Nature Park, and the walking here is genuinely good even though the high point itself takes thirty seconds.

Access is free and you can drive to it.

Running from here to Luxembourg

This peak was the start of a 50 km run to Kneiff, the highest point in Luxembourg, carrying about 4 kg, navigating on Google Maps, with a 4pm cutoff before forecast thunderstorms.

Some notes if you're ever tempted:

The route runs through St. Vith, roughly halfway, and it's the only realistic resupply point.

Everything in rural Belgium can be closed on a Saturday. I arrived at St. Vith out of water to find shops shut. Plan your water rather than assuming.

There are far more hills than the map suggests. The Ardennes are not flat and the elevation profile of a road route between these two points is deceptive.

Watch for sections that turn into motorway. I had to backtrack when the route ahead became a road I couldn't legally or safely run on. Check the whole line before you commit, not just the next turn.

Google's distance was about 45 km. With detours and wrong turns it came out at roughly 50.

The full account is on the Kneiff page and in the video.

Getting there

By car: the road goes over the summit. Parking on site.

By public transport: Eupen is the nearest railhead with a direct connection from Brussels. From there it's a taxi, and taxi availability in the area is limited enough that you should book the night before. Mine turned up at 5:28am for a 5:30 booking, which was a better result than I expected.

Doing the Benelux three in one day is a common pairing: Vaalserberg in the Netherlands (322 m), Signal de Botrange, and Kneiff in Luxembourg (560 m). Botrange to Kneiff is about 50 minutes by car, and Botrange to Vaalserberg another 50.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest point in Belgium?

Signal de Botrange, at 694 m, in the High Fens in Liège province, Wallonia.

Why is there a staircase on Signal de Botrange?

The Butte Baltia was built in 1923, adding six metres, so visitors could stand at exactly 700 m above sea level.

Can you drive to the highest point in Belgium?

Yes. A road crosses the summit and there's a car park, a café and an observation tower.

Is there a hike to Signal de Botrange?

Not to the high point itself, but the surrounding High Fens plateau has extensive boardwalk trails through peat bog and moorland, and that's the reason to spend time here.

How high is Signal de Botrange?

694 m of natural ground. 700 m if you climb the Baltia staircase. The Botrange tower, built in 1934, is 24 m tall on top of that.

Do you need a permit?

No. Access is free.

How far is it from the highest point in Luxembourg?

About 50 minutes by car, or roughly 50 km on foot via St. Vith.

Is Signal de Botrange the highest point in Wallonia?

Yes, and in Belgium as a whole.

Peak 24 of The Peak Project: climbing the highest point in every country in Europe.