Lavaux-Sainte-Anne
Mirwart seems quiet, abandoned in the middle of towering forests and sparse ponds. The old stone and half-timbered farmhouses form a hedge of honour with the castle. Time is at rest.
Victor Hugo called Dinant ‘ the most beautiful daughter of the Meuse”. You will indeed find plenty of pearls, both in the city and in the countryside! The best way to discover it? On board a boat, which will guide you along the most natural and impetuous places of the river …
Ready to board, sailor? Then the boat trip on the Meuse can begin with departure at the Marina of Dinant! Let yourself be carried away on the water to discover the beautiful places of the region, all the way to Freÿr, a local tourist attraction.During the boat trip from Dinant to Freÿr you sail through the lock of Anseremme. The boat thus Bridges a height difference of 2.40 meters and passes the most turbulent property (the section of the River between the two locks) of the Hoge Maas.
A beautiful Old Priory and steep, green slopes glide by slowly. Bet you will be amazed by the famous castle of Freÿr, with its French gardens, and the rocks of Freÿr, the largest climbing massif in Belgium? To learn more about everything you see along the way, you will be told a long explanation of the entire route.
To top it off, you can also have a drink or eat on the way, as the boat is equipped with a bar, a Panoramic lounge and two terraces. In other words, everything has been thought of, for a fun and relaxing activity … Especially if you are a customer of Ardennes-étape, because then you get a free drink (no special beer).
With 500 inhabitants, Redu is one of the smallest villages in the Belgian Ardennes and also one of the best known. And for good reason, Redu is the place to be for all book lovers, a lovely little paradise that will quickly win your heart!
Are you ready for a book hunt? You will love browsing in the many second-hand bookshops and strolling through the narrow streets of this charming town, full of authentic character. If you are an avid reader, don’t miss the annual Literary Festival which takes place during the Easter weekend, or the Night of Books in August, when the shops stay open all night. With the village lit up and artists providing the ambiance, you will be seduced by the magical and poetic atmosphere that emanates from the place.
Nestled between culture and nature
You can’t visit Redu without also being seduced by its charm and beautiful natural scenery. Take the opportunity to go on a long hike to discover the surrounding countryside of this pretty corner of the province of Luxembourg!
Do you like travelling through time like we do? If you’re staying near Rochefort, the ideal place for a real Gallo-Roman experience, head to the Archaeopark of Rochefort! The domain highlights three themes: heritage, nature and culture.
History, heritage and knowledge
Little archaeologists, come this way! Did you know that Malagne holds vestiges of the past? Thanks to the archaeological digs, we can now understand ancient farming in Malagne. Visit reconstructions, discover the objects and tools of yore or carry out your own searches in the estate’s documentation centre.
An exceptional estate
The Gallo-Roman villa is located on a 14-hectare estate, listed as natural heritage. You’ll find a vegetable garden where the vegetables and wild plants that were known at the time are grown. Certain areas of the site are ‘Nature Network’ labelled by Natagora while the flower and vegetable gardens are recognised as ‘remarkable gardens’.
Recently, ‘the Hirundula Rustica nature trail’ was also created. The aim of this new trail is to highlight the fauna, flora and landscape of Malagne, and raise the public’s awareness to its protection.
Calling all art lovers!
Malagne also offers cultural activities. Temporary exhibitions, art trails… During your visit, create a living connection between yesterday and today’s knowledge and beliefs.
A little game for families
Receive the notebook of Jean-Jacques Godelaine, who was an archaeologist at the Domaine. What to do with it? Solve a riddle! On the programme: observations, excavations, reflections… Discover without further ado what the drama was that took place in the villa at the time!
Historians, naturalists, artists and budding investigators, the estate is a corner of paradise for you!
Rochefort Castle’s strategic position has protected illustrious lords over the centuries since 1155. The town of Rochefort gained its name due to the fact that it’s located on a large rock. However, the castle fell into disrepair after the French Revolution.
Nowadays, you can bring the site back to life in the escape room ‘L’Héritage perdu’ (Lost Heritage), a mix of fun and history. Imagine: it’s 1795, and to escape the massacres of the French Revolution, the last Count of Rochefort had to abandon his fiefdom. It’s up to you, by stepping into the shoes of his heirs, to try and reverse the course of history by saving the castle from the hands of the peasants!
How? In teams of two to six people, you have 60 minutes to discover the hidden clues that will allow you to solve the castle’s enigma and thus alter its doomed fate. A fun and instructive hour of time travel!
Discover this hidden treasure on a 5 minute walk from Chez Marcelle !!
Located near Rochefort, this castle’s round towers give it a beautiful and impressive silhouette. Explore the whole site, from the cellars to the dungeon, take a tour of the nature reserve, and see how the nobility lived in centuries gone by. All this with an exclusive discount for Ardennes-étape customers!
Through the centuries
All the rooms have been furnished and decorated to give you a real feel for what life was like here. Experience rural life in 19th-century Famenne in the cellars and the sumptuous life of the Lords in the 17th century on the ground floor. There’s a definite air of Downtown Abbey about this place!
The added bonus? Children can dress up in traditional costumes during their visit!
Discovering the animals of the Famenne
The Nature and Hunting Museum on the first floor has an impressive collection of taxidermied animals on display. Learn about the history and folklore of hunting, an important activity for the Lords of Lavaux.
Walk around the castle ponds and nature reserve
Another reason that we like this place is because it respects and preserves local nature. You’ll discover this as you stroll through the natural wetland.
