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The Ardennes

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Iridescent dragonflies dart and hover over Monet-worthy lake scenes in the gloriously landscaped parkland of this historic rural abbey complex, dotted with inspirational Bible quotes in four languages. The complex is still an active Cistercian monastery with an excellent brewery whose beers you can taste in the popular cafe-restaurant.

Founded in 1216, the neo-Gothic basilica dates from an 1885 rebuild and is free to enter. To see a little more you could join a 1.30pm Saturday tour (€6, French only). The site is in very pretty rolling countryside around 15km north of Verviers, but you'll need your own transport to get here.

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±'s must-see attractions

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    Aachener Dom

    13.36 MILES

    It’s impossible to overestimate the significance of Aachen’s magnificent cathedral. The burial place of Charlemagne, it’s where more than 30 German kings…

  • St Servaasbasiliek

    St Servaasbasiliek

    11.65 MILES

    Built above and around the shrine of St Servaas (Servatius), the first bishop of Maastricht, the basilica presents an architectural pastiche whose…

  • Blégny Mine

    Blégny Mine

    3.69 MILES

    For one of the best industrial-experience tours you'll find anywhere, don a hard hat, jump in the cage lift and descend through a pitch-black moment into…

  • La Chocolaterie Darcis

    La Chocolaterie Darcis

    7.67 MILES

    Playing a 21st-century Willy Wonka, one of Belgium’s foremost chocolatiers has turned his modern factory into a superb interactive museum experience. Walk…

  • Grand Curtius

    Grand Curtius

    10.31 MILES

    Splendid Grand Curtius unites four disparate museum collections in the former mansion-warehouse of a 16th-century Liège arms dealer. The building's red…

  • Domschatzkammer

    Domschatzkammer

    13.32 MILES

    Aachen's cathedral treasury is a veritable mother lode of gold, silver and jewels. Of particular importance are the silver-and-gold bust of Charlemagne…

  • Bokrijk Openluchtmuseum

    Bokrijk Openluchtmuseum

    25.19 MILES

    One of Europe’s largest open-air museums, Bokrijk Openluchtmuseum offers a nostalgic look at Flanders’ past, with over 100 old buildings originally…

  • Église St-Jacques

    Église St-Jacques

    11.14 MILES

    Arguably Liège's most fascinating church, this architectural hotchpotch was founded in 1015 and retains a heavily patched-up 1170 west end whose…

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Nearby The Ardennes attractions

1. Blégny Mine

3.69 MILES

For one of the best industrial-experience tours you'll find anywhere, don a hard hat, jump in the cage lift and descend through a pitch-black moment into…

4. La Chocolaterie Darcis

7.67 MILES

Playing a 21st-century Willy Wonka, one of Belgium’s foremost chocolatiers has turned his modern factory into a superb interactive museum experience. Walk…

5. Place du Marché

7.77 MILES

Vervier's most attractive square is dominated by a stately town hall, with cobbled Mont du Moulin descending photogenically past ivy-draped and half…

7. Limbourg

8.42 MILES

Well worth the 1km detour if you're driving between Eupen and Verviers (turn south at Dolhain), Limbourg is one of Belgium's most delightful historic…

8. Zonneberg Caves

10.05 MILES

This gigantic network of quarry-tunnels date back centuries but are most intriguing for their occasional charcoal murals and the stories linked to their…