OCTOBER 2019

Getting lost in fairytale woods, living the slow life and enjoying pure gastronomy.

Well hello there …

Since a couple of years, I am really enjoying to go to the Belgian Ardennes now and then, just for a weekend and especially during autumn- and wintertime. It is the perfect getaway to slow life a bit down and enjoy nature at the fullest. This time we rented a comfortable house with lots of character. Perfectly located, at walking distance from the “Lesse” and plenty of interesting tourist hotspots.

Good night, sleep tight!
Le Cocon d'Ardenne

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This charming semi-open vacation home is totally renovated and redecorated in 2019. When you enter the spacious entrance hall with impressive staircase, you will find at your left hand side the completely renovated and fully equipped kitchen.

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The kitchen gives access to the garden and dining area, where you can find a large wooden table, which offers space for 12 persons. Next, you find the living room where you can watch TV, have a drink at the cozy bar or relax at the cute fireplace.

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Another door leads you back to the entrance hall, where you can find a toilet and the entrance door to the adjacent garage with washing machine and dryer and lots of extra storage space. On the 2nd floor you can find 4 double bedrooms and 1 twin/quadruple room with 2 to 4 single beds. The master bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with bath/shower and 2 sinks. There is a second bathroom to share with shower and 2 sinks, and a separate toilet.

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From the living room, you have access to the terrace and very spacious and well-maintained garden. The perfect place for children to play carefree and to enjoy a summer or winter BBQ in good company.

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This stunning place is located in Chanly, a small village located in the province of Luxembourg. To shop groceries, you drive 3km, to Wellin. If you are into fresh caught game meat, you must stop by “Maison Lefebvre”, the local butcher. We bought his famous “boule the Wellin” a unique pepper salami and some outstanding deer filet to take home.

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The tourist hotspots

When I visit the Ardennes, I prefer not to plan a whole program as I am used to. Probably because I have the opportunity to come back whenever I want. It is not a “once in a lifetime visit” and this region just breaths calmness, so you automatically slow down.

Which doesn’t mean, you can not make nice excursions in the region !

  • Caves (10km – 10 min)
    This region is well-known for its underground caves, with the “Caves of Han”, as one of the most beautiful caves in Europe, in the lead. Sculpted by the river “Lesse” which passes through it from one side to the other. From the village center of Han-sur-Lesse, a picturesque tram takes you to the entrance of the cave. Multilingual guides guide you through the impressive halls; the route is approximately 2 km long. An adult pays € 21 entrance fee, a child between 4 and 11 pays € 15 (subject to changes). They also offer special theme visits now and then like sound and light shows, Halloween, caving quests, etc …

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You can combine your visit with the adjacent Wildlife Park, where you can go on safari on
foot or by safari bus. It is the only wildlife park in Belgium that offers the “European Big 5”
(wolf, bear, lynx, European bison and wolverine).

The caves of “Lorette Rochefort and Hotton” are less known then their big sister but also
worth a visit! Certainly if you rather avoid the big crowds and you are looking for a cheaper
option.

  • The Abbey of Maredsous (50 km / 40 min)
    Founded in 1872 by Benedictine monks and built in a neo-gothic style. As a visitor, you can admire the stunning architecture of the monastery and taste the famous cheese and beer, made on site. For a guided visit, you pay € 6 as from the age of 12.

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  • Dinant (40 km / 30 min)
    Hometown of Adolphe Sax, set on the Meuse river and overlooked by the famous citadel. The city is not very big, but there is plenty to see and do. You can visit the caves of “La Merveilleuse”, 10 minutes outside the city center. The Gothic cathedral of “Notre-Dame” with its impressive stained glass window. And off course, the Citadel, reachable by foot or cable car. Entrance fee € 8,50 per adult, € 7 per child. You can combine your visit with a boat ride on the river.

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  • Euro Space Center (15km / 15min)
    Closed until June 2020! A very interactive museum. Perfect for an educative family fun day when it’s raining or cold outside.

  • Durbuy ( 50 km / 50 min)
    Durbuy is the smallest city in the Ardennes. Enjoy the narrow streets in the historic center, the 17th century houses, good restaurants and nice shops. (This place is a little bit more expensive than the average tourist spots in the Ardennes though ) Durbuy also owes its popularity to the wide range of outdoor activities.

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  • Canoeing
    On the countless rivers that the Ardennes is rich, it is wonderful to go kayaking or canoeing, especially in the summer. Along the Lesse, Ourthe, Semois and Amblève there are numerous rental points where kayaks and canoes can be rented for relatively little money ( average price +/- € 25 pp ). In the summer months it is possible that too little water flows through the rivers. There are numerous rental companies within a 30 to 50-minute drive of Wellin. The small sailing tour  of the Lesse is 12km and takes about 2h30, the long tour is 21km and takes about 5h.

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  • Walking
    It goes without saying …this region is perfect for beautiful walks in the magnificent forests.
    Of course you sometimes have to deal with height differences. But nothing an occasional walker can't handle. You can find some walking routes in the surroundings of Wellin on the website of Route You.

Would you like a table?

  • Lesse Capade ( Resteigne ) http://www.lessecapade.be/

    We had a lovely diner here! The restaurant has a magnificent location on the edge of the Lesse. Olivier is the boss in the kitchen and Caroline - who is a veterinarian outside the opening hours - takes care of the service. The chef is rather authentic, amongst his favourites: trout, lamb, deer, scallops, a magnificent piece of beef with béarnaise, … We went for the 3-course menu:  a pasta with truffle as a starter, a stew of deer with winter vegetables as main course, and a lemon pie for dessert. The “Chateau La Martinette” was also an instant success. We will certainly return !

Other recommendations in the region, according to food critics:

“slow down and enjoy the little things in life”