Welcome!
This is where our journey begins. Meet the witch sisters Rafke and Kim.
They'll help you discover the magic and beauty of the Savelsbos and the South Limburg hills. The place exudes mystery and beauty, perfect for photographers and nature lovers.
Let yourself be carried away by the surroundings and discover its hidden stories.
Along the way, you'll see on your phone:
- analog photography by Ingeborg Steenhorst
- ceramic art by Rafke Hotterbeekx
- painting and drawing art by Kim Hotterbeekx
Magic of the Savelsbos
The Savelsbos is a narrow, rugged hillside forest located east of Maastricht between the villages of Cadier en Keer, Gronsveld, Eckelrade, Sint Geertruid, Moerslag, and Rijckholt.
It is considered one of the most beautiful forests in South Limburg. Numerous cultural, archaeological and geological secrets and age-old stories, which envelop the forest and surrounding areas, give it a unique, almost magical atmosphere.
Discover more secrets of the Savelsbos here.
The Witches' Gathering
In the northern part of the Savelsbos, between the villages of Cadier en Keer, Margraten, and Gronsveld, lies an old forester's house atop the hill Riesenberg called; House de Beuk.
Here unfolds the story of two extraordinary women... two sister witches.
Creative and free-spirited, they feel deeply connected to the nature that surrounds them.
When midwinter falls, on the darkest day of the year, they set out on the path known as "Den Hekse Weeg", or the witches road. Along the way, they invoke the slumbering light, so that it may awaken again after the long winter night.
DAGAZ
Ecoline, micron pen and pencil on paper
Riesenberg Hill
The Riesenberg is a hill on the western edge of the Margraten Plateau. This hill, approximately 120 meters high, is located northeast of Gronsveld and southwest of Cadier en Keer in the northern part of the Savelsbos.
The dry valley Dorregrubbe is located southeast of the Riesenberg. This dry valley flows south of the hill into the Meuse Valley. The name Riesenberg refers to a past of wine growing, which may date back to the Middle Ages or even Roman times. In the18th and 19th centuries, several hermits lived on the Riesenberg.
The best view of the area is on the hill near the historic forester's house 'Huis de Beuk'.
It is at this spot at sunrise during the Winter Solstice that the witch sisters meet to pay tribute to nature.
After enjoying the view from the Riesenberg, in silence and with awe, the women begin their hike along 'Den Hekse Weeg', or the witches road.
Before we set off with the witches, would you like to know a little more about the historic forester's house ...and discover who lives in the attic?