Originally, the village of Raeren consisted of numerous hamlets. These settlements, not directly contiguous, were connected by footpaths, so-called stiegelwege. The stiegel were openings with wooden stakes or stones which prevented grazing livestock from passing but allowed humans to do so. In this way, the inhabitants of the various hamlets were able to visit one another via these short routes and trade with one another. Some of the 'modern' stiegel work on a see-saw principle, whilst others are fitted with little rotating gates.
