Ardennes
This 271 km road trip through the Belgian Ardennes starts in the spa town of Spa, heads past Malmedy to the High Fens and the East Cantons and returns to Spa in Bastogne through the Ourthe Valley via La Roche and Durbuy.
Highlights along the way include several WWII museums, the Spa-Francorchamps race track, the High Fens nature park, the many marked hiking and cycling routes, the picturesque villages of La Roche and Durbuy and the impressive caves of Hotton and Remouchamps.
- Perfect travel companion if you want to discover the Ardennes by campervan, car or motorbike
- Clear division into 5 stages with 37 places of interest, travel tips, 31 hiking routes, 18 cycling routes, local tourist services and places to stay (32 campsites and 9 camper van sites)
- Available as PDF (travel guide 62 pages) in beautiful design, illustrated with inspiring texts and high-quality photography
- Includes interactive map for PC, tablet or smartphone so you have all information at hand on the road
- Includes GPX files so you can download the full route and all cycling and walking routes onto your GPS
Some highlights on this road trip
Spa - Malmedy
Spa has been known as a spa town for centuries, thanks to the iron and carbonated water of the local thermal springs. More than three hundred springs bubble up from the earth here, each one of them provided with healing water. We leave Spa via the Col du Rosier and drive through the woods towards Coo, the place of the waterfall of the same name (the highest in Belgium) and the amusement park Plopsa Coo.
After Coo, we drive through the valley of the Amblève towards Stavelot. In the central square, there is an old abbey which houses several museums (including the Museum of the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit). In Stavelot, the Col de Wanne, the Col de Stockeu and the Col de la Haute Levée are three of the most challenging climbs in the cycling race Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Stavelot is also just a stone's throw away from Francorchamps, home to the most beautiful Formula 1 circuit in the world.
Malmedy - Weismes (De Oostkantons)
The East Cantons is a German-speaking region in Belgium in the area between Malmedy, Eupen and St. Vith. This is where the bloody "Battle of the Bulge" took place in December 1945, signalling the end of the Second World War. The past is preserved in several war museums in this region.
After Malmedy, a beautiful climb follows towards Signal de Botrange (officially the highest point in Belgium) and Baraque Michel. From here, you have several accesses to the High Fens, an impressive high moor. It is a rough environment, but a dream for hikers and nature lovers! Just before Eupen, we drive towards the German border, where a visit to Monschau is worthwhile before driving south again through the East Cantons towards Waimes.
Weismes - Bastogne
In Waimes, our ride around the High Fens and through the East Cantons ends. Near Waimes, a visit to the Robertville Lake (a reservoir) and Reinhardstein Castle are highly recommended.
After Waimes, we head for a region that will forever remain in the collective memory as the site of the Ardennes Offensive during World War II. The area between Waimes and Bastogne was the scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the Second World War in December 1944 and heralded the end of the war. This region is dotted with war memorials and war museums and is a must-see for war history enthusiasts.
Bastogne - Durbuy
La Roche-en-Ardenne is a paradise for sports enthusiasts, who will find an inspiring environment here. During a visit to the ruins of the castle at the top of the town, you will be transported back to the Middle Ages and have a wonderful view of the region. After La Roche-en-Ardenne, we follow the course of the winding Ourthe to Hotton, famous for its caves and underground river with a maze of halls.
Do you prefer to stay above ground? Then drive on towards Durbuy, a medieval town that proclaimed itself the 'Smallest Town in the World'. A footbridge across the Ourthe brings you straight into the town. There you will find restaurants, bars, fashion shops and food shops with Ardennes specialities. Durbuy is also a paradise for canoeists and for those who like to have fun there is Adventure Valley, an outdoor park with many outdoor activities.
