Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

DISCOVERING BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG 11

CENTRAL WALLONIA

• River Meuse


• Battlefield of Waterloo


• Stalactite-filled caves

Sweeping through the
landscape of rolling hills and
agricultural land that mark
Central Wallonia is the great
artery of the south, the River
Meuse (see p206). Limestone
beds and streams cover this
part of Belgium, as a result
of which, the region is pitted
with caves (see pp208–209)
dripping extravagantly with
stalactites. Namur (see p202–
203), the capital of Wallonia,
contains some of the finest
examples of medieval Mosan
(literally, of the Meuse) gold,
silver and enamel work. In
the north, close to Brussels,
is the field of Waterloo (see
pp196–7) with many memo-
rials to its famous battle.

GRAND DUCHY

OF LUXEMBOURG

• Luxembourg City, the
  astonishing capital


• Vineyards of River Moselle


• Charming landscape
  of Little Switzerland

The jewel in the Grand

Duchy’s crown is its capital,

Luxembourg City (see 240–

45). Spectacularly perched

over a sheer ravine, it was

one of the strongest citadels

in Europe and retains such

mementos of its past as the

network of casemates that

riddle the cliffs. However,

many visitors also come to

Luxembourg to explore its

unspoilt landscape and

nature, particularly in the

area known as Petite Suisse

(Little Switzerland) near

Echternach (see p250). In the

north are imposing medieval

castles. Among them, the

château at Clervaux (see p252)

is notable as the home of

Edward Steichen’s astounding

collection of photographs,

The Family of Man. No visit

to this country is complete

without a pilgrimage to its

wine making region around

the River Moselle (see p249).

River Sûre looping around Esch-sur-Sûre, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

EASTERN WALLONIA

• Great museums in Liège


• Beauty of the Ardennes


• Memories of the
  Ardennes Offensive

Most of Eastern Wallonia is

given over to the pristine

hills, forests and river valleys

of the Ardennes (see pp174–

5). In the north is Liège (see

pp216–19), businesslike and

full of verve, with two superb

museums. The Musée Grand

Curtius presents a world-class

collection of decorative arts

and Musée de la Vie Wallonne

is an exemplary museum on

local social history, traditions

and crafts. For a walk in wild,

untamed landscape and even

cross-country skiing, the

Liègeois head for the high

moorland of Hautes Fagnes

(see p223). Further south, the

switchback hills and valleys of

the Ardennes were once the

WESTERN WALLONIA

• Cathédrale Notre-Dame
  in Tournai


• Rich industrial heritage


• Castles and châteaux

Once the wealthy industrial
powerhouse of Belgium, the
mining and smelting region
around Charleroi (see p187)
and Mons (see p189) have
fascinating heritage sites, such
as gigantic boat lifts and
mining museums. Western
Wallonia is also known for
its magnificent castles, most
notably at Attre (see p185),
Seneffe (see p187) and
above all, at Beloeil (see
p186). The enduring histori-
cal importance of this region
can be witnessed at one of
Belgium’s most striking and
awe-inspiring cathedrals,
the Cathédrale Notre-Dame
in Tournai (see pp180–84).

The long colonnaded nave at

Tournai's Cathédrale Notre-Dame

scene of the famed Ardennes

Offensive of 1944–5, remem-

bered in many museums and

monuments, particularly at

Bastogne (see p230). In the

far south, the classic hill-top

Château-Fort de Bouillon (see

232–3) speaks of the distant

age of the crusading knights.

(see p162). A major attraction
in this part of Belgium is the
open-air museum of Bokrijk
Openluchtmuseum (see p167).
Old Flemish farming tradi-
tions are preserved here in
a collection of historical rural
buildings set out in the park.