A scenic and gastronomic delight, the Ardennes is a welcome respite from museum hopping. With the change in landscape comes a shift in emphasis, away from treasures hoarded indoors and toward the outdoor riches of bracing air, winding mountain roads, sparkling streams, and tranquil lakes. Add to that some pretty resort towns, nestled in steep river valleys, and fine old country inns -- now you have an idea of the Ardennes.
The region offers a cornucopia of outdoor possibilities (though the landscape is one of hills, rather than genuine mountains): hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, golf, hunting, horseback riding, skiing, swimming, tennis, and more. Tourist offices can point the way to any necessary rental equipment.
Recommending an itinerary for the Ardennes is difficult. I don't think you can do better than to follow your nose. Sooner or later you'll bump into some biggish place like Spa, Bouillon, Bastogne, or Durbuy where you can join other wanderers. If you stick to the back roads, you'll have fun getting lost among all the stone villages and farmhouses for which the region is justly famed. Many of these were reconstructed after being destroyed during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944 and 1945.
The Ardennes on a Plate
Food lovers rejoice! This region is home to the delicately smoked Ardennes ham (jambon d'Ardenne) proudly served all over Belgium, and of other regional specialties, including game and fresh trout and pike. The Ardennes is famed for its wealth of gourmet restaurants, many in country inns where the innkeeper doubles as a fine chef.
