august-2011

BELGIAN ARDENNES
Clockwise from left: The
medieval village of Bouillon
on the Semois; Reflecting
on the beauty of the Meuse;
Cycling is a rewarding way
to get around the Ardennes;
Meeting the local wildlife
Best for: wildlife
Heading deep into the Ardennes, towards
Luxembourg, you’ll find the 7,000-hectare
Anlier Forest. Between Martelange and
Habay-la-Neuve, its northern slopes reach
a respectable altitude of 517 metres,
making this the place for experienced hikers
keen on meeting the locals: such as deer,
wild boar, badgers, foxes and wildcats. Along
the banks of the Sûre and Géronne rivers,
meanwhile, you can try to catch a glimpse
of an otter – recently making a comeback
to the region, along with beavers.
Start in Volaiville and take in watermills
on the Géronne, or walk along the banks
of the Sûre towards the Le Château de
Strainchamps (chateaudestrainchamps.
The slopes of the Anlier Forest are the place
to meet the Ardennes’ locals – such as deer,
wild boar, badgers, foxes and wildcats
36 Brussels Airlines b.there! magazine August 2011
IMAGE ALAMY
IMAGE GETTY IMAGES
com), a few kilometres down, for a Belgian
feast. This old estate, dating from the
18th century, sits on the outskirts of
a charming Ardennes village and serves
both experimental and traditional dishes.
Best for: plant life
Start from the overflow of the Étang (lake)
de Virelles and stroll into the forest of
Blaimont. Heading towards the village of
Lompret, this walk will take you across a
limestone plateau, sloping to the south and
overlooking the river. The rich flora along
this 7km trail makes for an aromatic journey,
and offers a taste of the region’s vegetation.
Stop at the Aquascope nature centre to
learn more about the area’s plant life via
Going wild in Wallonia
More activities in the Ardennes
■ Come summer, Belgians like to escape
from the capital and head down to the
Ardennes to enjoy a bit of canoeing.
This is a great way to see more of the
region, fl oating down either the River
Lesse – at Anseremme near Dinant –
or the Ourthe at La Roche.
■ King Albert I was an avid mountaineer
and loved spending time in the Ardennes.
During his reign (until 1934) he increased
the mountaineering routes in the region,
making the Ardennes a top spot for rock
climbing. Only members of mountaineering
clubs are permitted to climb on Belgian
cliffs, but it’s worth it for the sweeping
views across the river valleys.
■ Wildlife spotting is a treat here, with the
large game population rising more than 50%
in the past 20 years according to the Belgian
Tourist Offi ce. Look out for wild boar,
badgers, beavers and otters. Native birds
also create a pleasant ambient bird song
– keep an eye out for the black stork, the
European honey buzzard, the Tengmalm’s
owl and the middle-spotted woodpecker.
IMAGE GETTY IMAGES
IMAGE CORBIS