Towns and villages of the Belgian Ardennes

Choosing a destination in the Belgian Ardennes

The Belgian Ardennes are not a single place: they are a succession of valleys, wooded plateaus and small towns, each with its own history and pace. This page gathers our guides to villages and towns so that you can choose a destination before comparing places to stay and things to do.

The Semois valley is central. The river carves deep meanders and the villages follow its course: some sit at the water's edge, others perch on the slopes with views over the valley. You will come across slate houses, old tobacco-drying barns, castles, bridges and footpaths linking the hamlets. Each guide describes the place, how to reach it, what to see and the walks that start there.

Further afield we present other Walloon stops that combine easily with a stay in the Ardennes: Dinant and its citadel on the Meuse, La Roche-en-Ardenne on the Ourthe, Han-sur-Lesse with its caves, Namur, Ciney and Spa. These towns offer museums, shops and restaurants, and can serve as a base if you would rather stay in a town than deep in a valley.

To choose, ask yourself a few simple questions. Do you want to walk straight from your accommodation, or visit a historic site? Are you travelling by car, by bike or by public transport? How much time do you have? The Semois villages are close to one another and suit a stay without long journeys; the towns need a little more travelling but offer more services.

The cards below link to each guide. They state the sources used; for opening hours, prices and access conditions, which change, always check the official website of the site or the tourist office before you set out.

If the place you are looking for is not listed yet, read the overview guide to the valley at the bottom of the page: it places the villages in relation to one another and points out the main stops that combine well in a single day.

Each guide cited here is written by the ArdennenBelgie.be editorial team from public sources and official documents. We name our sources, date our updates and say so when a piece of information cannot be confirmed. Our approach is set out on the page about our methodology.