This is a tourist stop you mustn’t miss if you’re in the Pays de Herve: the superb Val-Dieu Abbey welcomes you in Aubel, with its brewery and authentic special beers that have a distinctive character.

It’s a little gem that opens its doors to you in the middle of nature, rich with all the facets that you’ll discover. Notre-Dame du Val-Dieu Abbey is a landmark in the region! A spiritual high place founded in 1216 by Cistercian monks from the Netherlands. Legend has it that at the time, the valley, which was then uninhabited, was so hostile that people called it ‘Devil’s Valley’. This did not however discourage the monks who set up there and warded away evil by renaming it ‘God’s Valley’, which then gave rise later to the Val-Dieu Abbey. One must believe that these good auspices were beneficial because it’s the only Belgian Abbey to have survived the French Revolution.

Exceptional, traditional Belgian beers

Today, the Val-Dieu Christian community occupies the location and oversees its destiny. And what a destiny, because it’s bustling with activity! One should add that the Cistercian orders were known for their brewing talent, so it's natural that the abbey’s monks should have developed beer production, with very elaborate recipes. At the time, brewing was linked to the need to make water drinkable, to avoid diseases such as cholera or typhoid. Now, brewing is an essential part of the location and its beers have become an institution! Aside the cloister, the grounds and the basilica, don’t miss a visit to the brewing room. Pretty signposted walks await you too before the final stop at the shop to take some beer away with you!

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Experience the harsh realities of coal mining during a visit to this extraordinary mine, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A remarkable site that is marked by the seal of history. On the edge of the province of Liège, sits the Blegny-Mine, one of four authentic coal mines in Europe whose underground galleries are still accessible to visitors via the original shaft. You are in for an experience that will leave a lasting impression. Ready? Let's go! Equipped with a protective jacket and helmet, you’ll step into the cage to descend 30 and 60 metres underground into the bowels of the mine.

Discovering Wallonia's industrial heritage

Do you want to learn how coal was mined? Experience the narrow passageways, the noisy machines and discover the tireless, difficult work of the miners. A fascinating, educational visit that is also a little nerve-wracking (claustrophobic visitors are advised to wait above ground!). Once back on the surface, discover the journey of the coal through the cleaning and sorting buildings. From the sieve to the washery via the cleaning process, from the arrival of the ore to its transport and sale, you will learn everything there is to know about coal!

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The Belvedere of the Church of Saint-Donat has become the city of Arlon's tourist landmark, offering an exceptional and unique panorama.

Once upon a time, there was a church perched on the top of a hill in the heart of old Arlon. With a height of 428 metres, the top of the hill is accessed by following a beautiful path with stone crosses, which is listed as a major cultural heritage site in Wallonia. "St. Donat's ascent" or the "Royal Way of the Cross", as it is also called, leads you to the doors of the church, at the top of which a belvedere tower was built between 1905 and 1907 to replace the original Capuchin bell tower.

Feast your eyes!

A climb of exactly 141 steps takes you to the lookout tower, which is about 35 m high. And from up there, you will be rewarded with quite the view on a clear day! The view is quite simply spectacular. Beyond the slate roofs of the town, you are also offered a panorama of the Ardennes plateau and the surrounding countryside, across the three neighbouring countries of France, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Germany. We told you the view was unique! The Belvedere is open from 1 May to 15 September, but several tours and evening visits are organised throughout the year to admire the view of Arlon "by night”!

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It’s one of the Gaume region’s top archaeological sites, recognised as a heritage site by the regional authorities of Wallonia, where the past and the present intertwine to create a unique place that’s not to be missed.

Although the remarkable site of Montauban is not the easiest to get to, it is more than worth it. Nestled deep in the forest, this place combines traces of the past, history, the iron industry, heritage, natural beauty and... contemporary art? Well, the gamble has paid off. It’s a bold combination, but one that just works, leaving a trace of magic in its wake. It should be mentioned that the environment itself provides one piece of the puzzle, testifying to three successive periods of occupation of the site: the Iron Age, the Gallo-Roman era and the Middle Ages. It was in 1958, when excavations took place, that important bas-reliefs from the Gallo-Roman period were found. To house these, a kind of open-air museum was created on the site: the famous Musée Lapidaire.

A Green and Leafy Site Combining Nature and Culture

Dotted with rocks and springs, the Montauban site captures the imagination. What makes it so interesting is how so many different forms of human activity have cropped up in the same place over the ages! Today, you can still see the ruins of a keep, and of a castle which legend links to the Four Sons of Aymon. This place of intrigue, discoveries and encounters offers a fascinating walk through history. And when you want to return to the present, go and have a look round the Centre d’Art Contemporain du Luxembourg Belge (Belgian Luxembourg Centre of Contemporary Art), located just a few hundred metres away. Exhibitions and outdoor art installations are held there throughout the year. Perfect to round off the experience!

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Orval Abbey is a famous name. Renowned as much for its beer and cheese as for its fascinating history, this remarkable place attracts both tourists and those looking for quiet contemplation.

It’s a must-see, the type of place that marks the history of a region and whose renown extends beyond its borders. This site on the edge of the Belgian Ardennes, in the heart of the Gaume region, is surrounded by woods and forests with springs and streams running through them. A fantastic natural environment with, in its centre, an impressive Cistercian monastery founded in 1131, whose beauty will leave you speechless... At several points over the centuries, the abbey has suffered the blows of history only to be reborn from its ashes. It was in 1926 that the Cistercian monks created a brewery and a cheese factory on the site to fund its reconstruction.

A Symbol of History... and of Tasty Traditions

This helped to grow its reputation even further, making its name and coat of arms iconic. And what can we say about Orval beer? It’s become a classic! With its unique taste and unusual amber aroma, it is one of the six Belgian beers brewed by the Trappist monks who still live there. Would you like to learn the secrets of the brewing process? Don't miss a visit to the museum! It has an educational trail with a quiz, great fun for the kids and the grown-ups. In the surrounding area, you can take a walk in the Prés d’Orval nature reserve: a superb route where you can observe the abundance of flora and fauna. Oh and before you leave, don’t forget to stop off at the shop to buy some cheese and beer to take away with you...

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The Namurian Condroz still holds its most beautiful secrets in store, hidden in the midst of its peaceful valleys. These include the picturesque village of Crupet. Let yourself be transported by its exceptional heritage, streets and alleys and its rocks with incredible charm...

Crupet? It’s all of this: a Mediaeval dungeon attached to Carondelet Castle, built in the 11th century, old windmills whose wheels you can almost hear turning, traditional houses, some of which are over 300 years old, colours inspired by sandstone and limestone, rustic gardens that brighten up the streets, streams that flit here and there and the imposing rock along the hillsides. On one of these, you’ll come across Saint-Roch Chapel, dating from 1867, a real little gem! Yes, Crupet is revealed with your every step, a feast for your eyes. Higher up, Saint Martin’s Church and its presbytery will appear in all its beauty, but a much stranger and unexpected location awaits...

Ode to Saint Anthony of Padua

A totally atypical place: the incredible artificial cave dedicated to the life of Saint Anthony of Padua, which is also named ‘the Devil's Cave’. It was created by a landslide between the church and presbytery in the 19th century. Canon Gérard, the parish curate at the time, then began to create this cave. With the help of the inhabitants, more than 300 tonnes of earth were dug! A place among so many others to discover in Crupet, a small village where the unexpected can happen at each street corner...

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There are some places straight out of fairy tales that will have the whole family gazing open-mouthed at castle towers. This is the case with Celles, which is also one of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in Wallonia.’ Its story begins at the bottom of a small valley surrounded by hills...

It all started in the 2nd century, a time when the people there worshiped the Roman god Neptune. It wasn't until the arrival of Saint Hadelin in the 7th century that the small town converted to Christianity. Wanting to distance himself from civilisation, Saint Hadelin built a hermitage there, made up a number of rooms, or chambers, called ‘cella’ in Latin. Yep, you’ve guessed it - it’s from these that the village takes its name! Standing high above the village, the hermitage boasts a breathtaking view. The collegiate church of Saint Hadelin down the hill, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture and recognised as a heritage asset by the government of Wallonia, is no less magnificent. As is the village centre, flowery and welcoming, where there’s plenty to see: the fountain, the Panther tank, the Chemin de Croix path between the village and the hermitage... We weren't exaggerating when we said that Celles was beautiful!

A Fairytale Castle

Speaking of beauty, we can’t not mention the Château de Vêves. Considered on of the finest medieval castles in the country, it has been listed as one of Wallonia’s most outstanding monuments and it’s easy to see why. Standing proud and imposing in its spot overlooking the valley, the Château de Vêves will capture your imagination, and it’s just as beautiful inside as it is from the outside. Make sure you go in and have a look around! With the beautiful wood panelling, exquisite furniture, impressive galleries and enormous rooms, staircases and terraces, you’ll be transported to another time where tales and legends come to life...

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