Ardennes
Ardennes is a breath-taking region with fast flowing rivers winding through rolling hills of lush, dense forests. The rivers cross into Luxembourg and France. This gives its name to the Ardennes Champagne region.
The man-made footpaths in the hills are tried, tested and safe. As a matter of fact, this makes Ardennes the ideal location for escaping city life and experiencing nature. The tourist information board sell guidebooks with maps and a description of popular walks. It is recommended to visit one of the many castles around Wallonia. Some of which have been renovated into plush chateau-hotels. Alternatively, stop off at La Roche-en-Ardenne to photograph the 9th century ruins of a feudal castle.
History
Ardennes is steeped in culture and history. Some of the most important battles of the Second World War were fought here such as the Battle of the Bulge. As a matter of fact, this prevented Hitler separating the British and American armies. A museum situated in La Roche-en-Ardenne is dedicated to the men who lost their lives here. Other museums in the Ardennes reflect the culture and equally important, the beauty of the region.
Things to see and do in Ardennes
For the more adventurous the Ardennes terrain is perfect for cycling, fishing, caving and canoeing. There are outlets in the nearby towns and cities organising trips and as a result, hire out equipment. Alternatively, adrenalin junkies should pay a visit to Le Labyrinthe de Barvaux-Durbuy. It is a giant theme park packed with roller-coasters and other thrills rides. In contrast to this, if you prefer something a little more sedate, the Aquarium and Zoo are an ideal alternative.
Belgian cuisine has a reputation for quality. Good restaurants can be found all over the Ardennes. The most popular choice for eating in the Ardennes are Liege and Namur as they are the two closets cities. Uniquely, home cooking from a small town in the hills is particularly humbling. Many towns have their own delicacies which can be purchased from to take away with you.
The Ardennes is vast and not as easy to travel from city to city. With this in mind, we suggest you decide what you want to do before choosing where to stay. Hotels are comfortable and reasonably priced. Hotels typically only offer half board.
Traveling to the Ardennes by Ferry
The Ardennes region is situated inland so taking ferry will mean you will need to drive through much of Belgium. This journey will take you about 2 hours. It is a big region so when travelling there by ferry, it will depend on where you are going as to what the best ferry option for you is. By all means, check out our guides for the cites of Liege and Namur on more information. These two places are popular bases with people enjoying the Ardennes.