Destination 2015 by Fédération du Tourisme de la Province de Namur asbl

NAMUR PROVINCE

2015

Destination Ardennes / Belgium

THE VALLEY COUNTRY, PREPARE TO BE SURPRISED! Stéphane Halleux, creator of Mr Hublot Aurélie Marchal, inside the world of a ‘greeter’ Marc Delire’s top tips Relax and unwind with Benoît Gersdorff Brigitte Malou, the Han cave renovation

Maxime Richard, the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure, the River Meuse… and many more local figures

Spotlight on dozens of attractions

D E ST I N AT IO N

A Bit of ‘Sun’

on our Tourist Attractions The ‘Sun’ label, which is granted to the tourist attractions, stands for an evaluation done by the Commissariat Général au Tourisme (CGT). It is a quality process which aims at encouraging and reinforcing the professionalism shown in the infrastructures. The number of ‘suns’ (from one to five) of an attraction shows the level of excellence it has attained. Hereunder, you will find the attractions* in the Province of Namur which were granted a label:

1 ‘Sun’ logo

Train miniature Haute Meuse in Agimont / Ferme de la Comogne in Focant / Parc de Furfooz in Furfooz / Centre du Rail et de la Pierre in Jemelle

2 ‘Suns’ logo

Mustard factory Bister in Achêne / Musée de la céramique in Andenne / Maison du patrimoine médiéval mosan in Bouvignes / Aquacentre (the Lakes of the Eau d’Heure) in Erpion / The Spin cablepark in Froidchapelle / Medieval Castle in Lavaux-Sainte-Anne / The Museum of the battle of Ligny in Ligny / Musée Provincial Félicien Rops in Namur / Musée de la Fraise and Promotion du Pays de Wépion in Wépion / Site médiéval du Château de Poilvache in Yvoir

3 ‘Suns’ logo

Centre d'Accueil de la Plate Taille in Boussu-lez-Walcourt / Caves of Goyet in Goyet / Brasserie des Fagnes in Mariembourg / Brasserie du Bocq in Purnode / Draisines de la Molignée in Warnant

4 ‘Suns’ logo

Récréalle in Alle-sur-Semois / Dinant Evasion in Anseremme / Lesse Kayaks (blue kayaks) in Anseremme / Kayaks Rouges in Anseremme / Relais de Falemprise in Cerfontaine / Abbey of Maredsous and Centre d’Accueil Saint-Joseph in Denée / License-free boats in Dinant / Citadel of Dinant / Citadel of Namur / Parc Attractif Reine Fabiola in Namur / Chemin de fer à vapeur des 3 vallées in Mariembourg / Archeopark Rochefort-Malagne in Rochefort / The Cave of Lorette in Rochefort / Espace Arthur Masson in Treignes / Musée du chemin de fer à vapeur in Treignes

5 ‘Suns’ logo

Caves in Han-sur-Lesse / Wildlife reserve in Han-sur-Lesse

*As of 31 October 2014

www.tourismewallonie.be

D E ST I N AT IO N

Editorial

Destination 2015 is a publication of the Fédération du Tourisme de la Province de Namur avenue Reine Astrid 22 Bte2 B-5000 Namur +32 (81) 77 67 57 tourisme@ftpn.be www.paysdesvallees.be www.namurclic.be www.tourismegps.be www.visitardenne.com www.namurcongres.be

Managing Editor FTPN Director

Design and creation

Agence Texto asbl Esplanade de l’Europe 2A Bte 2 – B-4020 Liège +32 (4) 220 96 50 www.texto.be

A place for everybody! The Valley Country is all about its people. The people of Namur who love their local environment. The men and women who live, love, work and play in the region… The Valley Country is a heart that beats to the rhythm of its inhabitants, some of them famous. Be they ordinary citizens or local heroes back from the Oscars or the Olympics, proud owners of gold-medal wines or two-Michelin star establishments, they all come together to extend a very warm welcome to visitors. The Valley Country also boasts a rare diversity. Whether you like long solitary walks, extreme sports or Haute Cuisine, there’s something for everyone. Planning a weekend away with friends or family? Can’t decide between a gîte or a boutique hotel? Are you a wine drinker or do you prefer beer? Looking for a delightful setting with professional services for a company getaway? Our beautiful region has everything that die-hard locals and visitors from all over the world could possibly wish for. The Valley Country is a place for everybody. Francis Malacord, Director and Jean-Marc Van Espen, Vice-President

Editor in Chief Jean-Willy Lardinoit jw.lardinoit@texto.be

Design and layout Philippe Dieu www.washingmachine.be

©V. Matthys - Domaine Provincial de Chevetogne

Cover © Stéphane Halleux – photo: Muriel Thies

Printed by: Imprimerie provinciale de Namur

Destination 2015 contributors: Anthony Dehez, Carole Depasse, Jean Fauxbert, Guy Focant, Alex Kouprianoff, Léa Laïs, Simon Nicolas, Benoît Noël, Adrienne Pesser, Charlotte Quevedo, Stéphane Renard, Christian Sonon, Thierry Strickaert, Marc Vanel, Alain Voisot.

About Destination 2015 Destination is a magazine which showcases our region… every last, often quirky, detail brought to life by its people. There is so much happening we can’t feature everything in print form so why not visit www.paysdesvallees.be for extended interviews, excursion ideas, editorials, photos and videos. And Destination is now truly interactive: find us on the web, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media. E N J O Y !

facebook.com/pays des vallées

twitter.com/pays des vallées

pinterest.com/pays des vallées

D E ST I N AT IO N

Mont St-Guibert

BRABANT WALLON Walhai n Chastre

E19

Genappe

Villers-la-Ville

Les Bons Villers

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Profondeville

Somme-Leuze

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Gerpinnes

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Le Grand Vivier

Ham-sur-HeureNalinnes

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Walcourt

Hastière

Lac de de Taille la laLac Plate Plate Taille

MarcheFame n Houyet

Rochefort

Cerfontaine

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Doische

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Beauraing

Viroinval Chimay

Nassogne

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Tellin

Wellin

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Couvin 23

(Cerfontaine, Couvin, Doische, Florennes, Philippeville, Viroinval, Walcourt) Vallées des Eaux Vives Route de la Plate Taille, 99 B-6440 Boussu-lez-Walcourt +32 (71) 23 95 97

Dinant

Philippeville

Onhaye

Florennes

Vallées des Eaux Vives Information Centre

Ciney eL2 RAV

L11

Hamois

Yvoir

Anhée

L1 11

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Saint-Hubert Daverdisse

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Gedinne

Libramont-Chevign

Val de Lesse Information Centre

Paliseul A4

E44

(Beauraing, Houyet, Rochefort) Val de Lesse RueF de R ABehogne, NCE 5 B-5580 Rochefort +32 (84) 34 51 72

(Floreffe, Gembloux, Jemeppe, Sambreville, Sombreffe) Vallées de Découvertes Rue Sigebert, 3 – B-5030 Gembloux +32 (81) 62 69 66

(Ciney, Gesves, Hamois, Havelange, Ohey, Somme-Leuze) Vallées des Saveurs Rue de l’Eglise, 4 B-5377 Heure-en-Famenne +32 (86) 40 19 22

(Andenne, Assesse, Fernelmont, Fosses-la-Ville, La Bruyère, Mettet, Namur, Profondeville) Vallées d’Art et de Traditions Place de la Station – B-5000 Namur +32 (81) 24 64 49

Bertrix

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Herbeumont

6 Condroz-Famenne Information Centre

E44

Sambre-Orneau Information Centre

Pays de Namur Information Centre

Vresse-surSemois L524

(Anhée, Dinant, Hastière, Onhaye, Yvoir) Vallées de Forteresses et de Châteaux Avenue Cadoux, 8 – B-5500 Dinant +32 (82) 22 28 70

LUXEMBOURG

Bièvre

7 Ardenne Namuroise Information Centre (Bièvre, Gedinne, Vresse) Vallées de l’Ardenne Namuroise Rue Albert Raty, 83 B-5550 Vresse-sur-Semois +32 (61) 29 28 27

16 5

2 Dinant and Haute-Meuse Information Centre

Libi n

L524

Want to find out more? Visit www.paysdesvallees.be (Information Centres)

CONTENTS

Discover our themed brochures

2015

Destination 6

34 14

30 Celebrity

And many more at www.paysdesvallees.be (Brochures)

p.6

Stéphane Halleux

An artist not of his time

Surprise

p.8

Aurélie Marchal

Clink glasses on the Namur rooftops?

Amazing

p.11

Strange or what?

Relaxation & Leisure

p.12

p.14

Patrimoine p.26

The Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse marches

Keep in step

Kids p.30

Domaine provincial de Chevetogne Park

Escape for the day

Nature p.34

Grottes de Han

Reach for the stars

Marc Delire

p.36

RAVeL

Everybody speaks to each other

A cyclist’s paradise

NE5T is best

p.38

Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure

Happy times at the lakes

Business p.20

Domaine de Béronsart

Terroir

Attending to your every need

p.42

Château Bon Baron

Thierry and Tony, men of passion

Our local vines

p. 22

D E ST I N AT IO N

Celebrity Hamois

Stéphane Halleux

An artist not of his time In the world of visual artist Stéphane Halleux, past meets future. Look at any of his work and suddenly you will find yourself gently slipping back to a time when everything was delightfully naïve and dreams were not so modest… His studio is packed with all sorts of materials from his universe, the world of ‘Mr Hublot’, the animated character who came to life in the short film of the same name. The short is an industry classic and has already picked up 20 or so international accolades, including the prestigious ‘Best Animated Short Film’ Oscar! An unusual encounter with an artist like no other. I Adrienne Pesser V  ©Stéphane Halleux – photo: Muriel Thies

Where is the most beautiful spot in the Valley Country? — I’d say the view from Namur Citadel, the area around Belvedere open-air theatre. Can you recommend any walks or restaurants? — I like Hamois and the surrounding area, including the village of Mohiville where I live. I can think of several places I’d recommend for a meal. Peanuts is a really nice restaurant in the heart of Namur’s pedestrianised area. Le Chemin du Cèdre for its great couscous and lovely courtyard. Le Pâtanthrope is first class or the Sawasdee, a Thai restaurant in Jambes. My

favourite local speciality is still Blanche de Namur beer. Who is your favourite Namur celebrity (known locally as a ‘Naco’)? — Without hesitation it has to be Benoît Mariage. But if I had to erect a statue in homage to a local celebrity it would be Li-Lo*, my partner, who is also a singer. What’s your favourite Valley Country event? — I love the Namur Festival in May with its street theatre. It’s all pretty creative. I love the improvisation of the street entertainment and, of course, the beautiful costumes. Particularly the giant grasshoppers on stilts. I also love Namur’s International French Film Festival [FIFF].

D E ST I N AT IO N

Celebrity

From 2 to 9 October 2015

FIFF, 30th edition! Namur’s International French Film Festival (FIFF) celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2015. An extravaganza of more than 150 films from the four corners of the Francophone world, attracting industry professionals and the general public alike. The 7th art is most definitely alive and kicking.

More info

Scan the QR Code opposite www.fiff.be

Do you have a favourite fictional hero? — Batman! He’s the colourful character of the superhero world. He makes himself who he is. A Namur souvenir you’d send to Mars? — Bayard the horse.

Li-lo*

What would you call the eighth day of the week? — I’d call it ‘jeudredi’ [Thurfriday] because you already feel like you’re starting to wind down for the weekend. What’s your ultimate bugbear? — I hate routine! I don’t really want to grow up and you can see this in my sculptures. And your favourite Walloon insult? — ‘Gros sinsî’ (fat pig).

Stephan’s partner Li-Lo released her first album, By the Way, last March. Her acoustic pop is hugely popular in the province… and beyond.

Mr Hublot’s world is a world of characters hobbled together from spare parts, mostly mechanical. And yet it is a very beautiful world… and an Oscar winner!

D E ST I N AT IO N

Surprise

Namur

Aurélie Marchal

Clink glasses on the Namur rooftops? Young Aurélie Marchal, a Namur local, is passionate about her hometown. And she loves sharing this passion with interesting people. Visitors are referred to her via the ‘antenne namuroise de l’association’ and she takes them on a free, personalised tour to the places they want to see. Aurélie speaks several languages and is a self-confessed foodie. I Carole Depasse — V  Guy Focant

urélie knows from experience that tourists often have only one day in ‘her’ town. So she’s on hand to make sure their day in the Walloon capital is memorable, even if it is brief. Aurélie will take you off the beaten track to little-known corners of Namur, shopping areas or foodie havens. She offers a range of two-hour tours. And if she hits it off with the visitors, they may even take a detour for a drink or a bite to eat. A highlight of the tours is discovering local Namur products. Aurélie takes visitors on a gastronomic journey of the local specialities – hot sausage pastries known as avisances, Biétrumé de Namur caramels, which take their name from local joker Jean Biétrumé Picard – and she has even been known to introduce them to Wépion strawberry schnapps, the many flavours of péket (a local alcohol) or a good Blanche de Namur beer… just to be sociable, of course! Want to raise a toast on the Namur rooftops? She’s happy to accommodate any request. Aurelie remembers a Canadian tourist, a history PhD student, who absolutely had to visit the Citadel. For the sake of authenticity, she took him round the

The ‘Greeters’ are not professional guides but love to share their local knowledge and passion for the region.

Terra Nova and a lesser-known part of the site, the living quarters, and then she handed him over to a professional guide who specialised in the underground passageways and fortifications of the ancient citadel. Very soon Aurélie Marchal hopes to expand her tours to places outside Namur. She herself lives in Thon-Samson, officially recognised by the Walloon Region as one of its most beautiful villages, and would love to combine her city tour with rural villages such as Thon, Mozet and Gesves or Faux-les-Tombes. What a lovely idea! □ More info Fédération du Tourisme de la Province de Namur

Avenue Reine Astrid, 22 - B-5000 Namur +32 (81) 77 67 57 — www.greetersnamur.be

D E ST I N AT IO N

Surprise

Cooking the books Books

It has been something of a ‘crazy’ journey for the former banker who took the bold step to open Namur’s first cookery bookshop, modelled on the Librairie gourmande in Paris. It holds less stock than its larger French counterpart but there are cookery courses on offer above the shop. Themed or technical, the courses cater for groups of 8 to 12 and are very much a hands-on experience. Benoît has even been known to call upon great chefs to whip the pupils into shape. One such chef, San Degeimbre from L’Air du Temps**, has joined forces with Benoit and JeanLuc Pigneur (Atelier Vieusart) to form Generation W, an association dedicated to the promotion of cooking and Walloon products. At the Libraire toqué they chop, cook, whisk, taste and read. The ground-floor bookshop stocks a vast range of books, ‘anything from aperitifs to after-dinner liqueurs and from grandma’s recipes to molecular cooking’. Histories of world cuisine, recipes from home and abroad, organic trends, food-themed fiction, including a children’s section, let Libraire toqué whet your appetite and awaken your inner chef. □ C.D.

More info Place du Marché au Chanvre, 3 - B-5000 Namur

+32 (81) 65 65 30 — www.lelibrairetoque.be

©DOC Le Libraire Toqué

In the heart of old Namur, Benoît Cloës of Le Libraire toqué bookshop shares his passion for cooking with fellow aficionados.

D E ST I N AT IO N

Surprise

Jewellery

Goldfinger

©DOC Éric Seidoff

Visual artist and teacher Éric Seidoff brings his unique sheet metal jewellery-making skills to the Valley Country. During the summer, participants in his two one-week courses learn how to beat, cut and shape sheet metal into jewellery. Whether the trainees are professional or amateur, Éric Seidoff makes sure they leave with one or two finished items at the end of the first day. What better way to ensure they’ll be back? □ C.D.

More info Éric Seidoff,

Rue de Fraire, 17 – B-5537 Bioul (Anhée) +32 (71) 70 39 39 — ericseidoff.skyrock.com

Food and drink

A nose for business Think all French mustard comes from Dijon? Then think again! She may have left the University of Namur with a degree in economic and social sciences, but Fabienne Bister’s career has not exactly taken the direct route. She started out as a journalist and consultant and then in 1991 entered the family mustard business, which was founded in 1926. Four years later she was running it. Since then she has been firing on all cylinders. Never missing her morning and evening checks on ‘her’ 40 mustards and condiments, she devises new advertising campaigns, welcomes the ‘6,500 tourists who choose to visit our company and small museum’ and lobbies for Walloon businesses. ‘Some people spend their free time knitting. I campaign for SMEs, when my busy schedule permits,’ the first woman to hold the position of Vice-President of the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium tells us. □ C.S.

©Simon Nicolas

More info

Bister, Parc industriel d’Achène, 10 - B-5990 Achène (Ciney) +32 (83) 21 47 02 — www.bister.com

Amazing

DE E SSTTIINNAT AT IO IO NN

Strange or what? Try to guess where these unusual photos were taken and what they are. 1

Played on open ground, sometimes among the cows, I’m originally from the Netherlands and have a British twin…

I was the inspiration behind Franquin’s ‘Château de Champignac’ but I am in a much better state of repair!

I am 60 metres high. I am perched at 503 metres atop Belgium’s third-highest peak. I was ‘born’ in 2001 and weigh 82 tonnes.

In a laboratory once used to make gunpowder, I create fragrances of peace and serenity.

The very last of my kind, I’ve been travelling back and forth from the cliff to the castle and from the station to village since 1871, simply taking in the scenery.

I am right at the epicentre, using all five senses to discover Wallonia.

©Thierry Strickaert

Still don’t know?

©S.I. d’Yvoir

For the answers, scan the QR Code opposite or visit www.paysdesvallees.be (section: Amazing)

D E ST I N AT IO N

Relaxation & Leisure Wépion

Marc Delire

Here, everybody speaks to each other After 20 years in Brussels, Marc Delire, Proximus TV’s Mr Football, has come back to live in Wépion, and doesn’t seem to regret his return to his roots... I Gilles Bechet — V  Guy Focant

Do you go out and about in the region? — I don’t really have a normal job with regular hours so it’s not easy for me to spend time with family and friends. Having said that, I do want my wife (who’s from Brussels) and children to get to know the region, so we go out on our bikes. To be honest, I think the valley between Namur and Dinant might just be one of the most beautiful spots in Belgium. Anybody I talk to, and people who have visited, all agree that you’d be hard pushed to find anything ‘ugly’ about it. What are your favourite places? — Right off the top of my head, the Café de la Gare in Profondeville. The owner, a former deep-sea diver, has become a friend of mine. It’s the place to head to for a party atmosphere or something to eat when everywhere else is closed. And as I often finish work around 11pm… It’s a meeting place for people from all walks of life. I’ve met a plumber, a heating engineer, a gardener and a mechanic and there’s no snobbery. Everybody talks to everybody else. I particularly like it at night when it attracts a different crowd. And if my great pal Benoît Poelvoorde comes in from the other side of town, I just have to hope I don’t have a 10 o’clock meeting the next morning! What do you like to eat there? — I love their ham knuckle. They also have excellent meat, seafood and fish straight from Brittany. Seafood is their speciality. And the place itself is quite surreal. Even weekdays you need to book. It’s always full.

Any other tips? — Well Le Lagon bleu in Jambes is also quirky, but in a completely different way. It’s run by a former boxer and is open right through the night. Tensions can rise sometimes but things never get out of hand. This is another place where everybody speaks to each other.

Marc’s top3

You’re also particularly fond of little sports club bars, aren’t not? — My 7-year old son plays football at Wépion. It started with one or two of the dads turning up for the Wednesday afternoon training session and then the group got bigger. Those who come to watch their kids play are happy to get together at the bar and put the world to rights. This is the kind of place where I feel really at home. That’s how football is. Your dad can be a lawyer or out of work but you wear the same jersey and kick the same ball. It’s your kid against another. So we get the beers in and get back home much later than planned. I’ve been to see Real Madrid, Manchester and Anderlecht play. It’s a great atmosphere, but the people there know me from the telly. Here, that makes no difference whatsoever. I’m Marc, Victor’s dad. There’s none of the insincerity you can come across in so-called trendy places. □

Le Café de la Gare Rue Cel Bourg, 15 B-5170 Profondeville +32 (81) 41 23 22

Le Lagon bleu Av. J. Materne, 26 B-5100 Jambes +32 (81) 31 12 38

Cuisinémoi Rue Notre-Dame, 44 B-5000 Namur + 32 (81) 22 91 81 www.cuisinemoi.be

D E ST I N AT IO N

Relaxation & Leisure

Brothers of the lake Relaxation

More info Hostellerie Dispa, Rue du Jardinet, 7 – B-5650 Walcourt

+32 (71) 61 14 23 — www.hostelleriedispa.be

©DOC Hostellerie Dispa

The Walcourt hostelry, built in the Art nouveau style with a few discreet contemporary touches, has ten exquisite rooms ready and waiting for hikers and sea sport enthusiasts. In the gourmet restaurant, it’s Julien in the kitchen and Thibaud in charge of the wine list. ‘We serve flavoursome, seasonal food,’ Thibaud tells us. Everything is prepared on the premises, from starters to dessert, with herbs from their own garden and artisan cheeses from the village of Chastrès adding an authentic local touch. ‘We go abroad two or three times a year to seek out new wines. If our guests are willing, I have no qualms about turning my back on the old favourites to offer them unusual food and wine matches.’ With chef ’s tables, cheese and wine tastings in the cellar, and other food and drink- related activities, plus GPS trails and kayaking for the more sports-minded, Hostellerie Dispa really should be on everyone’s itinerary. □ G.B.

©DOC Hostellerie Dispa

A stone’s throw from the Lacs d’Eau d’Heure, in a house which once belonged to the local notary, we find Thibaud and Julien Dispa at the helm of the business their parents established some 40 years ago.

With its unusual flavour combinations using seasonal produce, the Dispa is perfect for a meal with family, business colleagues, your partner or friends

D E ST I N AT IO N

Relaxation & Leisure Namur

Benoît Gersdorff

NE5T is best Michelin-starred restaurateur Benoît Gersdorff is a man of action, both in and out of the kitchen. He has restored an old 1888 farm in the heart of Namur’s historic Citadel into a high-tech residence and a showcase for his passion and great taste. I Gilles Bechet — V  ©DOC NE5T

r Bigneron in his red Willys jeep arriving to deliver milk straight from the jug and drop off the fresh eggs – this is an image Benoit Gersdorff has never forgotten. He was about four years old at the time and living with his grandparents about 400 metres from the farm Mr Bigneron rented from Baron de Fallon. That was over 40 years ago. The last owners and farmers had long since left what was, for many years, the oldest working farm in the Citadel. The building was pretty much a ruin but was put up for auction and Benoît Gersdorff came along with his son and bought it. He had no particular plans for the building. He was simply acting on impulse and a wish to hold on to a part of his childhood. Today the farm has been fully transformed into luxury guest accommodation. The NE5T (pronounced Nest) opened its doors in 2012, after nine years’ work, in a chic residential quarter five minutes from the town centre. It comprises a number of large suites, ranging in size from 60 m2 to 140 m2. Generally a suite is a bedroom with its own lounge, but you get even more at NE5T! Each has a

suite

Generally a suite is a bedroom with its own lounge, but you get even more at NE5T! Guests have their very own loft apartment!

©Thierry Strickaert

The NE5T concept: luxury accommodation, beautiful décor and peace and tranquillity. The perfect getaway…

D E ST I N AT IO N

Each themed apartment is comfortable and luxurious without being ostentatious. An experience not to be missed!

Relaxation & Leisure

D E ST I N AT IO N

Relaxation & Leisure

dining room, one or two lounges, one or two bathrooms and one or two bedrooms. Guests have their very own loft apartment! The restaurant is set up for groups of 8 to 16 people, providing a timeless setting for a convivial dining experience.

Cosy nest The name ‘NE5T’ is a nod to the dovecote that once occupied the pointed roof. The ‘5’ represents the five elements – water, wood, fire, air and earth – found throughout the hotel, in its spa, construction materials and the location of the building itself. But top of the agenda at NE5T are tranquility, well-being and individual attention. Guests come here to get away from it all and recharge their batteries, without having to travel too far. ‘We don’t make any fancy claims. We simply want to welcome guests and ensure they have a pleasant stay in a place that we ourselves have created,’ Benoit Gersdorff told us.

ming pool and spa, Jacuzzi, hammam, gym, beauty treatments, massages and more… The perfect setting for fostering team-building and motivation. Now that’s worth bearing in mind! □

B2B With single-room accommodation for nine, companies can block-book all or part of the building for seminars. Corporate NE5T guests enjoy the luxury experience and home comforts, with access to the full range of services: private cinema, meeting rooms, indoor swim-

The restaurant can also be used as a private dining room for business meals.

More info NE5T, Allée de Menton, 26 – B-5000 Namur

+32 (81) 58 88 88 — www.ne5t.com

D E ST I N AT IO N

Relaxation & Leisure

A little corner of paradise Relaxation

A former school has had a high-class makeover. Who said a gîte had to be rustic?

More info Gîte « La Classe », Tienne Piot, 1 – B-5537 Denée (Anhée)

©Anne et Jean-Luc Laloux

+32 (71) 79 81 57 — www.laclasse.be

©DOC La Classe

This 19th century building in Denée (Anhée), near Maredsous Abbey, once housed the school and municipal services. Today it is a gîte. ‘I don’t think that adequately describes it. When people think of a gîte they expect something basic. Ours is built from glass, steel and blue stone and is far from basic,’ owner Jean-Luc Laloux tells us. And what a transformation! The chairs have been repainted in bright colours and hung on the wall, the globe stands proud on a beam, the wall bars serve as bunkbed ladders and there’s a hopscotch painted on a wall! Awarded the highest Gîtes de France accolade (4 épis), La Classe showcases the talents of photographers Anne and Jean-Luc Laloux, both architecture enthusiasts. ‘We had a shop and a studio,’ Jean-Luc adds. ‘But we were looking for another challenge. When an old windmill at Bioul came on the market, we jumped at the chance to buy it and do up its sawmill. That worked out well so we did the same with this old school we bought from the local council.’ □ C.S.

Quality materials and luxury designer furniture take this exceptional old school building right to the top of the class.

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Relaxation & Leisure

Designer haven

©DOC The Royal Snail Hotel

Luxury

Opened in spring 2013, The Royal Snail Hotel is still as bright and fresh as the season in which it was born. Step through the door to the hotel, or its trusty companion the Agathopède Restaurant, and you enter an elegant world of designer fabulousness at the foot of the Citadel. What a beautiful place! And we haven’t even mentioned the bar or spa yet. Definitely worth a visit – you won’t regret it. □ J.W.L.

More info The Royal Snail Hotel

Avenue de la Plante, 23 – B-5000 Namur +32 (81) 57 00 23 — www.theroyalsnail.com

©DOC The Royal Snail Hotel

Relaxation & Leisure

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Relaxation

A traditional welcome

Discover… The Valley Country has a solid gastronomic tradition, with the Château de Namur catering school producing great chefs such as Pierre Résimont and Gérald Watelet. The region is not short of artisan food producers and Michelinstarred restaurants either: L’Eau vive** and L’Air du Temps**, L’Essentiel*, L’Hostellerie Gilain*, Chai Gourmand*, Cuisinémoi*, La Bergerie*, Lemonier* and Le Fou est belge*. www.chateaudenamur.com

©DOC Château de Namur

©Alain Gilain

Plus…

©Alain Gilain

L’Atelier de Bossimé www.atelierdebossime.be

Laurence and Alain Gilain take us back to the time of the ‘coaching inn’, when travellers stopped off for food and lodging after an exhausting journey. You’ll find nothing pretentious at this light and airy inn perched on the Dinant hills, just a warm welcome, comfort and contemporary cuisine. There’s no Jacuzzi bath in the bedroom but a sunny terrace open to nature in summer and a cosy lounge with wood fire in winter. The simplicity extends to the décor and menu, which champions top-quality local produce. Each meal is hand-crafted by Alain, with the addition of the odd contemporary twist to delight and surprise his guests. □ C.D.

More info Hostellerie* Gilain, Rue de l’Aiguigeois, 1 – B-5503 Sorinnes (Dinant)

+32 (83) 21 57 42 — www.hostelleriegilain.com

Stéphen Destrée’s biscuits www.biscuiteriedestree.be

Want to find out more? Visit www.paysdesvallees.be (section: Tourism and gastronomy)

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Business Gesves

Domaine de Béronsart

Attending to your every need In the soft rolling countryside of Gesves, in the heart of the Condroz region, a 17th century windmill has been transformed into a high-tech conference centre. Sitting comfortably in its natural setting for the last eight years, the venue is prized by companies seeking to (re)discover authenticity. I Christian Sonon — V  Régis S.

‘T

he idea came to me when I was looking for conference venues,’ explains Hélène, who was an HR consultant before embarking on this adventure. ‘There was always something that wasn’t quite right. Either the technology was perfect but the venue was depressing, or the venue was pleasant but not practical. I dreamt of an old building with character, equipped with up-to-the minute technology to meet every need.’ Bought complete with park, woodland and pond in 2006, the Domaine de Beronsart, 15 minutes from Namur, offered a magical setting and a versatile working space. ‘When I saw the two yew trees at the entrance, I fell in love with the place,’ the owner admits. But it was pretty dilapidated at the time and the renovation was a mammoth task. Luckily the new owners had Herculean determination and, unlike the divine hero, did not need to divert the Samson, the little stream that flows across the property. And today, what drives owners Hélène and Daniel more than ever is a desire to offer companies an amicable, yet professional, experience.

Mission accomplished The end result is a conference room with large picture windows overlooking the park, pond and river,

©Domaine de Béronsart

At the Domaine de Béronsart, guests are welcomed to a magnificent setting… and their every business need is met.

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Business

750 m

The truly unique Fantaisies de Béronsart glasshouses can accommodate almost 450 guests in their 750 m2.

equipped with a plasma screen and a state-of-the-art sound, image and light control system, a versatile function suite, a lounge with fabulous wood burner, dining room and bar. ‘All these spaces can be adapted to meet the needs and wishes of our guests,’ Hélène tells us. ‘We’re also fortunate enough to have the truly unique Fantaisies de Béronsart glasshouses which, at 750 m2, are large enough to accommodate almost 450 people. We renovated them ourselves and they are now our unique selling point.’ Eight years have passed, much water has flowed along the Samson, but the owners have not lost sight of their original ambition: to create for their clients a cosy, yet professional, environment where they are treated just like guests. Daniel sums it

The Domaine de Béronsart, 15 minutes from Namur, complete with park, woodland and pond, offers a magical setting and a versatile working space.

up: ‘We never take more than one group at a time so we can devote ourselves entirely to them. All the hard work we put into our estate and receiving our guests definitely pays off.’ □

More info Domaine de Béronsart

Rue des Carrières, 7 – B-5340 Gesves +32 (83) 23 07 00 — www.domainedeberonsart.be

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Business Beez

Thierry and Tony, men of passion Cruises and motorsports... the gentle flow of a river and the speed of the racetrack. Two skilled craftsmen championing two very different sectors. I Jean Fauxbert — V  Anthony Dehez

assion? The word is overused but there is no other way to describe our respect for these two entrepreneurs. Thierry and Tony are men with different personalities, from different backgrounds, who are driven by a common passion to create (dare we say it) masterpieces which are, if not unique, produced in very small numbers. Thierry Van Frachen was one of the last civil engineers to graduate from, and work as assistant at, the Catholic University of Louvain’s naval architecture department before it closed in 1980. His passion is building boats. But not just any old boat. He builds cruise ships, those fabulous luxury floating hotels which navigate rivers and canals the world over! Since he took over the Beez shipyard, 30 such ships have been built. And there are more to come. Despite competition from China and Turkey, the director and his teams keep a firm hand on the helm. Tony Gillet has been a petrol-head all his life. He’s a brilliant racing driver and was Belgian hill-racing champion many times. He also competed in two Paris-Dakar rallies at the wheel of cars he adapted himself, before starting a business importing Donkervoorts (the Dutch version of the Lotus Seven). In 1990 he took the world speed record at the wheel of one such car, which he modified himself.

FIA GT2

Tony Gillet entered his cars in the FIA GT2 championships, carrying off the category title in 2006, 2007 and 2008!

He then threw his heart and soul into a mad idea he’d been nurturing for a long time: building his own car. He brought out his first Vertigo in 1991 and has now built some 30 of these exclusive cars, which have been sold to wealthy private clients in the US, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. Revered by all as works of art, Tony’s cars have been driven by Prince Albert of Monaco, Johnny Hallyday and other well-known figures. But Tony couldn’t shake off the competition bug so he entered his cars in the FIA GT2 championships, carrying off the category title in 2006, 2007 and 2008! At 69 years of age, this champion has a long way to go before he reaches the end of the road. And there’s plenty for him to do before he gets there.

Tony Gillet and Thierry Van Frachen (right), two entrepreneurs who create exclusive products, each in their own individual way.

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Business

And on our rivers…

One may design welded-steel ship hulls while the other has his eye on the carbon fibre body parts in his autoclave furnace, but both men are driven by a shared passion to achieve the level of perfection many of our engineers and designers have long been known for… with the humility and simplicity that is the hallmark of the great! □

Thierry Van Frachen’s team began building the ‘Belle de l’Adriatique’ in Beez; the work then continued in Brussels Port and was completed in Zeebrugge. This impressive water giant (110 m x 14.5 m and 4 decks) is operated by CroisiEurope, sailing between different ports of call in the Adriatic. Have you ever considered visiting the Valley Country by boat? You take in the scenery from an entirely different angle and there are plenty of stopovers along the way: Heer-Agimont, Waulsort, Freyr, Anseremme, Dinant, Anhée, Yvoir and Lives-sur-Meuse, to name just a few. CroisiEurope also offers cruise and excursion enthusiasts trips along the Rhine and its tributaries. Choosing this international tour operator is almost as good as stepping on Namur territory, as the Strasbourg-based company is a customer of our shipyards.

www.croisieurope.be

The speed of the Vertigo or the slow gentle progress of a pleasure craft. All made in Namur.

Discover…

Plus…

Close to Namur town centre, with a lovely view over the Citadel, the marina is the perfect spot for hanging out on your own or with the family, or for holding business meetings. And now Bertrand Loute is at the helm of the Charlie’s Factory events company, there’s also summer fun to be had at the ‘Happy Summer Times’ event.

www.charliesfactory-event.com

RAVeL, leisurely travel along the two waterways www.ravel.wallonie.be Cruises on the Meuse and the Sambre www.sambre-tourisme.be

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Business

Novel

All the fun of the cruise, Namur-style A meeting or wedding on the water? Why not? Boat for you has recreated the classic luxury of the yachting world. All aboard!

©DOC Boat for you

Ever considered holding a meeting on the water? What about tying the knot on a boat? For the past five years and more, Boat for you has been attracting private and business clients to its classic luxury yacht-style cruiser, which is just made for parties. ‘We not only provide the venue, but can organise your whole event: sound, lighting, décor, food, all tailored to your needs. That’s where we’re different!’ explains Bernard Schorkops, project designer. And coming soon, waterlubbers will be able to set sail on the Astaga, a small craft which has been fully renovated for use as a water taxi or dinner cruiser. Taking luxury to a new level in our region. All aboard! □ A.P.

©DOC Boat for you

More info Bernard Schorkops — +32 (475) 49 38 90 — www.boat-for-you.com

Discover…

Plus…

It’s generally thought that gambling is part and parcel of most societies. From ancient Greece to the Romans, through Napoleon’s France and the kingdom of Queen Elizabeth, it’s a familiar phenomenon. One of the first casinos was built in Venice around 1638. Our casinos in Namur and Dinant also offer quality dining and accommodation.

www.casinodenamur.be — www.casinodinant.be

NEW (Namur-Europe-Wallonia) www.new.be Wallonia-Brussels Tourism www.opt.be Cercle de Wallonie www.cercledewallonie.be

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Business

Tourism

Company directors, are you looking for somewhere to host a cocktail party, a symposium or a product launch? Or perhaps you’re an association and you’re looking for a venue for your water, tree or four-wheel sports challenges? Well, there are many forms of business tourism in Namur province so making the right choice is never easy. This is where Namur Congrès comes in. The province’s official conference office has a digital catalogue of around 100 meeting venues, almost 50 motivational courses and some 40 accommodation addresses. A total of 140 different operators! Once you’ve outlined your requirements, the Namur Congrès team will check availability and put forward a number of suggestions. A cocktail reception among the cannons of Dinant Citadel, team-building at the Domaine des Grottes de Han, a segway tour around the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure, a night in a former school, now a gîte, in the Molignée valley… simply choose the best option for your event. □ C.S. More info Namur Congrès — +32 (81) 77 67 58 — www.namurcongres.be

A long golfing tradition

©Shutterstock

Guiding you through the business tourism maze

Namur is more than just a province of the Valley Country. Several topquality golf courses have gradually appeared between the rivers and the citadels. There’s Falnuée (Mazy) and Rougemont (Profondeville), the Golf Club d’Andenne and Avia Golf Club on Florennes airbase, and the oldest of all, the Royal Golf Club of Château Royal d’Ardenne (Houyet), which was built by King Leopold II and goes back to 1895.

Plus… Are wide open spaces or caves your thing? Or how about Vertigo Bridge, the longest and highest rope bridge in Belgium? Are you a Laser Game fan or kayak enthusiast? Then bring your friends or colleagues along to Dinant Évasion. Fun and adventure guaranteed.

www.dinant-evasion.be

Want to find out more? Visit www.paysdesvallees.be (section: Business tourism)

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Heritage Walcourt, Cerfontaine et Florennes

Keep in step Throughout spring and summer, to the sound of the fifes and drums, thousands of enthusiastic, but harmless, foot soldiers descend on the towns and villages of EntreSambre-et-Meuse. For decades these regiments have been keeping alive a tradition which is now recognised by UNESCO as a heritage of humanity. I Jean-Pierre Ducastelle V  Alex Kouprianoff

o date, 16 marches have been named Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity and 15 of these acquired UNESCO status in 2012. So they are officially recognised, but what actually are they? It all started in the 19th century when increasing numbers of armed escorts appeared between the Sambre and the Meuse, on the boundaries of the provinces of Hainaut and Namur. These companies of ‘unofficial soldiers’, often in Napoleonic costume (see pho1

From 12 to 16 June, Ligny will witness largescale historic reenactments as part of the bicentennial celebrations of Napoleon’s epic battle on our land in June 1815 (photos 1 and 4). www.1815ligny2015.be

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Heritage

tos 2 and 3), add a touch of military splendour to the religious processions. One or more companies make up the armed escort and they all march in a specific order. First out is a fire squad led by a fire sergeant who carries a mace or a ceremonial spade. Traditionally, the men in the squad wear an embroidered apron, which is sometimes replaced by a leather apron. The fifes and drums follow with, after them, the flag and the young officers (children) and the major on horseback. Now it’s time for gunpowder as the gunmen march out, armed with rifles and tromblons. These are light infantrymen, grenadiers or zouave regiments. Bringing up the rear come all the more experienced marchers, who are responsible for organising the march and making sure there are no problems when the guns go off. It’s always a spectacular sight! □ More info www.unesco.org/culture/ich/fr/RL/00670

Want to find out more? Visit www.paysdesvallees.be (section: Commemorations 14-18) 4

Namur and Dinant are of course united by the river Meuse but both cities also have a citadel. Once military observation points and defensive posts, these fortifications are no longer at war.… if you discount the onslaught of tourists. Don’t miss the view.

www.citadelle.namur.be — www.citadellededinant.be

©SPW Moers-Balloïde

Discover…

Plus… — The majestic meanderings of the River Meuse have inspired poets but also builders of many constructions. Castles, fortresses and villas have all taken shape along the Meuse, creating a paradise for visitors. Find them at www.paysdesvallees.be — Visit Namur’s Provincial Museum of Ancient Arts to see the work of Henri Blès, a famous landscape artist born in Bouvignes or Dinant around 1510 (there is no clear record of his birth). www.museedesartsanciens.be

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Heritage

Museum

The property of Namur Province, the Félicien Rops museum lies in the heart of the old town, not far from the house where the artist was born. The museum presents aspects of his work, the major stages of his life, his encounters and his creations, and now technology has been used to showcase some of his talents (etching, drawing and painting). Late 2014, in a groundbreaking move, the museum scanned and then published online the 500 or so Felicien Rops-penned letters in its possession. This provided academia with a mine of information, which will gradually be added to by other institutions. As part of the same initiative, the museum also introduced an interactive desk where the public can read some of the artist’s correspondence, and a ‘magic’ armchair from which visitors can listen to some of the letters. The museum also overcame the odds to reach out to a teenage audience. It provides iPods on which visitors can watch eight short documentaries created by fifth-year secondary school pupils, with the assistance of the Province’s audiovisual department. The students were assigned a Rops work (Nadar, Pornocratès, Les dames au pantin, etc.) and told to let their imagination run riot. The result is both surprising and funny. Just like the artist! □ C.S.

Rops, Fabre, Namur. A pertinent place for two impertinent artists to come face-to-face. Watch this space next spring.

More info

Musée Provincial Félicien Rops

Rue Fumal, 12 ‑ B-5000 Namur — +32 (81) 77 67 55 www.museerops.be — www.ropslettres.be

©DOC Musée Félicien Rops

Félicien in the modern world

©DOC Musée Félicien Rops

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Heritage

Museum

In 1187 four brothers arrived from Walcourt with their widowed mother and settled in Oignies, some 30 kilometres further north. This little hamlet on the banks of the Sambre had a vacant estate adjacent to an ancient chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, where the family set up a priory. Three of the four brothers – Gilles, Robert and Jean – were priests. The fourth, known as Hugues or Hugo, did not join the order but became a goldsmith, going on to make his mark in the history of Wallonia. Living under the order of Saint Augustine, the family worked around Hugo and the workshop attracted apprentices seeking to meet the master. Hugo d’Oignies was a goldsmith, scribe and miniaturist. He signed several of his works and even appeared in some of them. However, a lone endeavour will never achieve great things. In 1207 Marie de Nivelles arrived in Oignies and joined the little community. Marie was well acquainted with a certain Jacques de Vitry, a Parisian theologian who was to be appointed Bishop of Acre in the Holy Land in 1216. Ten years later, he would be ordained as Bishop of Tusculum, some 20 kilometres south-east of Rome. A central figure in the Fifth and Sixth Crusades, he took advantage of his position to have relics, precious stones and other riches brought back to Oignies Priory. Hugo used the artefacts pillaged in the Holy Land to create marvellous reliquaries, which now feature prominently in our goldsmith legacy. □ A.V. More info

Musée Provincial des Arts Anciens du Namurois

Hôtel de Gaiffier d’Hestroy – Rue de Fer, 24 ‑ B-5000 Namur +32 (81) 77 67 54 — www.museedesartsanciens.be

©Guy Focant

Treasures of Oignies Priory

Shown here, the foot of Saint James. Follow in the footsteps of Saint James in Namur and throughout the province at www.saintjamesway.eu

D E ST I N AT IO N

Kids Chevetogne

Domaine de Chevetogne Park

Escape for the day Chevetogne is more than a park – it’s a whole different universe. I Léa Laïs V  © V. Matthys - Domaine Provincial de Chevetogne

f course you’ll find a swimming pool and themed, age-specific play areas at Chevetogne. Of course there are walking trails. And yes, free mini-golf and sports fields are available. Yes, it has a history, events and educational activities. Behind the trees, beyond the clearings, it gets increasingly charming with age. The site already appeared in Ferraris maps at the end of the 18th century but the construction of the current baroque revival castle by Baron Wykerslooth

Walks, themed play areas, museums, events… Chevetogne has something for everybody.

Kids

Cool kids

de Rooyesteyn in 1868 was, without a doubt, a defining moment. Back in the late 19th century it measured a mere 200 hectares. Having been extended several times, the park – bought over by Namur Province in 1969 – now covers an impressive 550 hectares.

Something for everybody Enjoy a stroll, alone or with the family. Hire a gîte with friends. Stay at the ‘Les Rhodos’ motel, once the winter pavilion. Rent a chalet. Bring your class for a nature study lesson. And if you’re an early riser, and don’t make too much noise on your morning walk, you may just encounter doe deer, wild boar and many other things we have lost sight of in our urban lives. During the springtime Operation Robinson® there are rope activities in the trees, sleepovers in suspended tents or tree huts, not to mention a zip slide and rope bridge for the adventurous. But sometimes it’s kids only. Adults must wait behind on solid ground. And that’s how it should be. □ More info

Domaine provincial de Chevetogne, B-5590 Chevetogne +32 (83) 68 72 11 — www.domainedechevetogne.be

On the banks of the Semois, Recréalle has everything you need for an action-packed day. Kayaking, mountain biking, electric quad bikes, mini-golf, climbing wall, table tennis and more… Or why not explore the village or local countryside by segway? Great fun! More info Recréalle

An absolute classic The Queen Fabiola amusement park is Namur’s largest playground. For a reasonably priced entrance fee, you have access to games, mini-golf, trampolines, electric cars and pedal go-karts… and not a traffic policemen in sight! More info

Rue Léon Henrard, 16

Parc Attractif Reine Fabiola

B-5550 Alle-sur-Semois

Rond-point Michel Thonar, 1

+32 (61) 50 03 81

B-5000 Namur

www.recrealle.com

+32 (81) 73 84 13 www.parf.be

©DOC Récréalle

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Kids

Wallonia of old

Adventure

How about a trip back in time? Trignolles is the village of Mayor Toine Culot, a colourful character invented by Belgium’s very own Pagnol, author Arthur Masson. The hour-long total immersion tour takes you back to Ardennes in the years 1930 to 1960. A little further on, your little darlings can discover what school was like in 1932. They’ll soon realise modern-day is heaven in comparison. □ C.D. More info

Espace Arthur Masson

Rue Eugène Defraire, 36 – B-5670 Treignes +32 (60) 39 15 00 — www.espacemasson.be

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Kids

Entertainment

Rainy day fun Parents allowed A heated and covered play paradise: what better place to spend a bleak day? Pirouette is a centre dedicated to early motor skills with different age-specific areas (1-2, 2-5 and 3-12 years). Plus there are 250 seats for parents to read, relax or have a drink while their offspring play. Safety is paramount and fun is top of the agenda. Parents can kick their shoes off and accompany little ones into the ball pool or foam circuit, while adventure awaits their elder offspring on the rope bridge and in the transparent suspended tunnel and dark room. A height-appropriate maze leads children safely through a 3-level course to the grand finale… the triple slide or the giant 6 m high slide! □ C.D.

Indoor mini-golf

Goolfy combines indoor mini-golf with a neon-lit set-

More info

Pirouette

Chaussée de Liège, 159 – B-5100 Jambes + 32 (81) 301 301 — www.pirouette.be More info

©DOC Pirouette

ting and breathtaking soundtrack to take you and your family, friends or colleagues to another era. Ready for departure? □ C.D.

Goolfy - Complexe ACINAPOLIS

Want to find out more? Visit www.paysdesvallees.be (section: Attractions)

Rue de la Gare fleurie, 16 – B-5100 Jambes +32 (81) 30 94 00

Discover…

Plus…

Four routes in the Hamois region punctuated by perils, tests and challenges. And Aventures Légendaires, near Dinant, takes families with kids from 6 to 12 years – and the young at heart – on a magical, fairytale journey.

www.dinant-tourisme.be — www.valleedessaveurs.be

La Maison de la Pataphonie www.pataphonie.be La Marmaille www.lamarmaille.be

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Nature Han-Sur-Lesse

Caves of Han-Sur-Lesse

Reach for the stars Millions of years, hundreds of thousands of visitors and a site which gets more modern by the minute. I Stéphane Renard V  ©DOC Domaine des Grottes de Han

he Han Caves are a prehistoric underground attraction, one of those heritage sites we have all visited at some point or other before filing the memory away in the ‘pleasant but old’ category. And this is precisely the image that Brigitte Malou, Managing Director of the Han domain since January 2011, has been trying to throw off since the day she agreed to take charge of the company. It’s the sort of challenge she relishes, with her business background and ‘love of all things operational’.

The dry valley of the Lesse, epicentre of the 250 ha park, is today home to some quite extraordinary flora and fauna

D E ST I N AT IO N

Nature

been preserved intact. And it covers 250 hectares!’ It is also a rare addition to Belgium’s archaeological heritage. ‘It’s the only prehistoric site of its kind in Europe. It was probably a place of worship which attracted people from far and wide. In the water we found a whole series of very old objects which had probably been thrown in during rituals.’ There are scientists from all disciplines at Han at all times. Currently there are several clubs of speleologists and diver archaeologists who have been on site since 1963, working assiduously on their research and constantly adding to the collections on display.

More visitors

At the time, visitor numbers were falling and management costs were excessively high for a small to medium-sized company. ‘We wanted to see a return to growth,’ as she says, so 2012 saw the introduction of projects such as ‘Han d’antan’ [Han of yesteryear] and the renovation of PrehistoHan. ‘Highlights included the opening of a new chamber, Les Draperies, and the start of a forest path in the reserve. These two projects really kick-started our strategic development, which we’ve managed to sustain,’ Brigitte continues. Footfall has started to increase, with a 15% growth in visitor numbers. The projection for 2014 is that Han will have welcomed some 300,000 people. ‘The Caves of Han-sur-Lesse are an exceptional natural environment. It’s the only place in Western Europe where such a mighty river, the Lesse, is completely swallowed up by a mountain and flows out the other side,’ she enthuses. ‘Plus, it’s the only dry valley which has

To reach out to a wider audience, the Han Caves have had to reinvent themselves. ‘There is significantly more on offer at Han today. The reserve serves simply as a showcase for the caves. We offer a visit which combines the wildlife park, caves and footpath.’ The reserve is very much devoted to the rehabilitation of threatened species, a place to bring the animals back to health before they are released back into their natural environment. ‘This initiative has led to the reintroduction of bison into Scotland, aurochs into Spain and great European predators such as the lynx, wolf and bear. We’re introducing LED technology and wheelchair access to bring this prehistoric site up to modern-day standards but that’s not all. We also play an active role in the preservation of biodiversity in Europe.’ So, true to their own slogan: ‘Han: nature full size’. □ The wildlife park is always changing and the caves are constantly being explored. Nothing stays still at Han!

More info Le Domaine des Grottes de Han

Rue Joseph Lamotte, 2 – B-5580 Han-Sur-Lesse +32 (84) 37 72 13 — www.grotte-de-han.be

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Nature

Walcourt

RAVeL

A cyclist’s paradise The aptly named Valley Country is an adventure playground for mountain biking. The Lacs d’Eau d’Heure is an area which is constantly changing. With 70 km of shoreline and hundreds of hectares of forests and fields, the route is already fabulous terrain for two-wheel travel but it is about to get even better. I Benoît Noël V  Warren Goldswain

For all cycling info, visit www. paysdesvallees.be (section: Cycle tourism)

ne 17-km section of the L’Eau d’Heure autonomous slow travel network, or RAVeL, is extremely popular. It takes cyclists and walkers from the Plate-Taille information point, around the lake of the same name, to Ri Jaune Lake then Falemprise Lake and back to the starting

point. The marked route is hard surface (concrete and tarmac) all the way, bordered on one side by the lake and on the other by trees. There are a few link paths but it is generally a safe route. L’Eau d’Heure has a total of 35 km of RAVeL tracks. In 2016, proclaimed the Year of the Bicycle in Belgium, the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure will host the Belgian National Road Race Championships – quite a coup for the park, which has a long-term collaboration with the Belgian cycling league, the Ligue vélocipédique belge. And well deserved, when you consider everything it does to promote bikes and ‘sustainable’ tourism, of which bikes are very much a part. Work began on the Bike Park in spring 2014 and starting this season the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure will become the cyclist’s paradise. Another ambitious project... There are 80 km of permanent marked mountain bike trails, a trial area with natural and artificial surfaces, a dual slalom track, free rider tracks graded according to the ski classifications (green, blue and red), a big air bag for amateur stunt cyclists, a Pump Track area (succession of rollers, berms and jumps) and dirt tracks, all with mechanical lifts to facilitate access. The bike will be king and the members of the local Superbikers mountain bike club, founded in 2003 by Marc Soussigne, will be its most active subjects. This ‘school’ is already the biggest in Wallonia but it didn’t have suitable facilities to meet the increasing demand for adult lessons so its partnership with the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure is the perfect solution. The Bike Park, at the ‘Ferme de Badon’, brings at least two advantages: it adds another dimension to an already well-known club and boosts visitor numbers. The Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure has set up a dedicated project team with the remit to engage experts in the field and turn this into a centre of excellence. Former professional cyclist Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke, who needs no introduction, now devotes himself entirely to the project. □

D E ST I N AT IO N

Nature

Tourism

How do you like the idea of spending a night under the stars with one of the finest views in the Meuse valley spread out before you? Turn your idea into reality in the Sphair bubble, perched 300 m high on the terrace of Les 7 Meuses restaurant. The 4.5 metre wide polyester cocoon has a comfortable double bed and even a concealed blower heating system. Guests staying in this ‘room like no other’ have access to a more traditional bedroom and lounge with every creature comfort they could dream of. This innovative overnight solution was launched four years ago and is the perfect complement to the restaurant’s gourmet menus. ‘Often people surprise their partners, announcing their night in the bubble over dinner in the restaurant. They can of course be slightly taken aback and it’s a bit of a gamble, but to date our guests have always spent a fabulous night,’ manager Benoit Chiaradia tells us. Sphair is the brainchild of local Namur man Laurent Kefer. It can also be hired by outdoor sleeping enthusiasts for a night in the grounds of a castle, on the deck of a boat or even a city-centre location. □ G.B.

More info Les 7 Meuses

Sart à Soile, 27 ‑ B-5170 Rivière +32 (81) 22 05 05

The European Commission EDEN (European Destinations of Excellence) accolade is awarded each year to promote the development of sustainable tourism. The Lacs l’Eau d’Heure joined the ranks of Durbuy, Ath, Viroinval, Marche-en-Famene and Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve when it received the EDEN award in 2010 for its sustainable water tourism offering. Cycling and hiking, two major eco-friendly activities at the watersports centre, both fit perfectly with the sustainable tourism concept. Another fine example, the Spin Cablepark, is the first in the world to be fully self-powered. Comprising a 620-metre cable, capable of towing 30 water-skiers and wakeboarders, the attraction reopened last May after renovation and is now 100% powered by 168 solar panels. For 30 years, water-skiers and wakeboarders (the water equivalent to snowboarders) had no option other than to be towed by motorboat, which was both costly and harmful for the environment. During a day’s water-skiing, a boat consumes around 150 litres of fuel! Nature can thank Cédric Vandermot and Xavier Bonnet, the two men behind the Spin Cablepark, for their wonderful invention. □ B.N.

©Artech.be

©DOC Sphair

Hanging out above the valley

Long live sustainable tourism!

A feast for the eyes Cinema

The International French Film Festival (FIFF) celebrates its 30th anniversary this autumn but it is not alone in marking an important year. Namur’s nature festival, Festival Nature Namur, turns 21 in October 2015. With 260 films, conferences, photo workshops and video-making courses, the FNN will bring the big screen to 35,000 people over a ten-day period. □ J.W.L.

www.les7meuses.be www.sphair.eu

More info www.festivalnaturenamur.be

Relaxation

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Nature

Walcourt

Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure

Happy times at the lakes With 1,800 hectares of water, forests and meadows, the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure resort is perfect for nature lovers, sports enthusiasts and healthy, sustainable tourism. I Benoît Noël V  ©DOC Les Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure

n the water. On the water. Beside the water. What a wonderful, healthy place to spend your time! In a few short decades, the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure has become Wallonia’s number one tourist resort, attracting visitors mainly from Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Sporty or not, we guarantee there will be something for you on its 70 km of shoreline (longer than the Belgian coastline), which extends

View over some of the 70 km of shoreline. Simply spectacular.

through Cerfontaine in the province of Namur and Froidchapelle in Hainaut. Back in the 1970s, the dam designers were really only thinking in purely practical terms. They had no idea their engineering structure would become a major tourist attraction. So much so that today, the Lacs area is a real driving force of the regional economy. The lakes became quite an attraction, mainly for sports at the outset. Then the public authorities (Walloon Region and Europe, with the famous ‘Objectif 1’ plan) decided to turn it into a proper tourist resort in 1994 to help boost the local economy. This was when it really took off.

Boredom impossible Initially aimed at the day tourist, the resort went on to target longer stays, offering an increasing selection of overnight stay options, including holiday villages, a hotel and chalets and later a camping site and motor home park. A much-needed development to cater for the ever-growing number of visitors the resort attracts with more than 25 different types of activities!

D E ST I N AT IO N

Nature

Fans of Laser Game and treetop rope circuits have not been forgotten and golfers will shortly be catered for with a golf course under construction. There is also an Olympic-size manege on the cards for equestrian sports. A guided tour of the Plate-Taille dam, the largest in Belgium, and its viewing platform renovated in 2013, take visitors back in time to remind them of the original purpose of the structure which became the foundation stone for this remarkable, constantly growing resort.

All year round

The walking and cycle routes are complemented by recreational activities and, unsurprisingly, many water sport disciplines: sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, diving, fishing, water golf, jet-skiing, traditional water-skiing (towed by a boat), cable water-skiing (towed by a fully solar-powered cable, the only one of its kind in the world), and more… The Aquacentre, with 140,000 visitors annually, is the most popular attraction. The fully renovated facilities will re-open their doors in May, offering pools, wellness areas and balneotherapy at a year-round temperature of 30°C.

Whether your stay is short or long, for relaxation or extreme sport, nature has something for everyone.

Alongside its steady stream of day visitors, the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure resort is developing its facilities and activities aimed at the holiday market. The accommodation available is increasing in number and variety and the focus is now on developing more accommodation options for a resort which has yet to fully exploit and promote the diversity of its activities, accommodation and natural landscape (Aquacentre, Natura park, Adventures of Crocodile Rouge, Dam visit…). The Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure is now an all-year-round resort. Visitors come every season for different activities (nature, sports, beaches and recreation) or simply to get together with the family round the fire in one of the comfortable holiday villages. Indeed, the resort welcomes over 2,000 visitors each year for Christmas!

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Nature

A brief history It all began with a reservoir

This steady stream of visitors has obvious knock-on effects for the local economy. Aware of the financial benefit, the local tourist offices, Vallees des Eaux Vives and Botte du Hainaut, have joined forces to provide information and the best possible experience for holidaymakers and locals visiting the lakes. And that makes for a lot of happy people, from Chimay to Couvin, Namur to Thuin, and also Charleroi and Dinant. Since 2003, Landal Villages (60 holiday villages in Europe) have been accommodating large numbers of holidaymakers from all over Belgium and the neighbouring regions in a 250 holiday home complex. A more recent addition to this offering was a 100% Belgian project, managed by Lamy, a well-established group which operates mainly in the South of France. Over the last few years, 85 very comfortable holiday homes have been built and are now fully operational and there are a further 17 currently under construction. This development furthers the Walloon Region’s quest for year-round tourism in the Pays des Lacs so the public authorities have dug into their coffers to develop plots of land. And their investment has paid off because every euro of public money invested has attracted five euros of private investment. ‘We don’t just pay lip service to the public/private partnership concept. These partnerships are really happening on a daily basis,’ Lamy Construction proudly told us. And the company is set to continue its investment in the Lacs de L’Eau de L’Heure with a 92-room hotel complex about to take shape. The first stone was laid in October last year. The complex will double up as a conference

Fun

The walking and cycling routes are complemented by other recreational activities such as sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, diving, water golf and jet-skiing…

Before it became the number one tourist attraction in southern Belgium, the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure, ‘Les Barrages’ to the locals, was built for an entirely different purpose. In the 1970s the designers’ brief was to ensure the water in the River Sambre did not fall below a certain level. The widening of the Charleroi-Brussels canal, modernised in the latter half of last century to improve navigability, placed higher demand on the water resources of the Sambre basin and it was decided to create reservoirs to mitigate water shortages during dry periods. To keep water transport moving and ensure optimum operation of the water-thirsty steel industries, the Sambre requires a water flow capacity of 5 m³/second. The Eau d’Heure valley was the obvious choice, bearing in mind its reputation for flooding the surrounding area at lightning speed. The name Eau d’Heure goes back to the Middle Ages when, if it rained for an hour, it took the river one hour to flood the region before returning to its normal waterbed. The original French ‘Eau qui vient en une heure’ (literally, ‘water which comes in an hour’) was shortened to ‘Eau d’Heure’. The first dam provided a reservoir of 27 million m³, the Eau d’Heure Lake, but this was not sufficient. To keep the waters of the Sambre flowing in the dry season required 48 million m³ so a second dam was built, creating Plate-Taille Lake, the largest in Belgium (351 hectares and 52 m deep, with a capacity of 68 million m³)! Engineers capitalised on the 45 m height difference between the two lakes to build a hydroelectric power station, which is still in operation today. Three other pre-dams were then built to create three further reservoirs: Falemprise, Féronval and Ri Jaune. The project, completed in 1981, was not intended for the tourist sector but the majestic environment very soon started to attract nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts. The rest is history… for you to discover. Bambois Lake near Fosse-la-Ville is another ideal spot for nature lovers or walks with family and friends.

www.lacdebambois.be

centre with eight high-tech modular rooms. And to attract other types of tourists, there are plans for a campsite and motor home park at the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure. Not only are these two holiday villages the newest in Wallonia, but they are also generating an important virtuous economic cycle for the region, as tourism jobs cannot be relocated. Soon there will be absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t head off to the Lacs de L’Eau d’Heure for a few days of peace and quiet in a natural environment which is becoming more attractive by the day… and in every way! □

More info Centre d’Accueil de la Plate-Taille

Route de la Plate-Taille, 99 – B-6440 Boussu-lez-Walcourt +32 (71) 50 92 92 — www.lacsdeleaudheure.be

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Sport

From Dinant to Rio A 27-year old kayakist from Dinant, Maxime Richard, has set his sights on the Rio Olympics, having made waves with his 13th place finish in the sprint trials (K1 200 metres) at London 2012. London set the ball rolling and, thanks to seven weekly training sessions (mainly on the Meuse, sometimes the Lesse) and daily workouts at the gym, the young man has already an impressive list of achievements under his belt, notably the title of world river kayak champion (2010). □ B.N.

Brief Bio

©Eventsee

→→ Born in Dinant in 1988 →→ 2004: first selected for the national team at the age of 16 →→ 2010, a first career highlight. He becomes world river sprint champion. →→ 2012, takes part in the London Olympics, coming 13th in the finals. →→ 2013, Maxime is once again crowned world champion in Solkan, Slovenia. →→ The two-time world champion is heading for the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Nature

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Terroir Lustin

Château Bon Baron

Our local vines Planted in Lustin in 2003 and producing since 2005, Château Bon Baron is today one of Wallonia’s five main vineyards. I Marc Vanel V  ©DOC Bon Baron

n Lustin, near Dinant, stands a house with half-timbering, turrets and pointed roofs, which could easily have been taken from a children’s fairytale. But no, the house was bought in 2000 by a Dutch family, the van der Steens, together with its vast unexploited land and view right over the River Meuse. Jeanette and husband Piotr had learned that the area used to be given over to vast vineyards and decided to reintroduce this noble crop. ‘I signed up right away for courses in Bordeaux and Germany. I read and studied vast amounts. We commissioned analyses of the soil and subsoil and studied the climate statistics for the last 30 years to determine the most suitable varieties to grow.’ Many Belgian winegrowers choose interspecific, disease-resistant varieties such as Regent, Solaris and Phoenix, but Jeanette van der Steen took a more traditional route, opting for Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Chardonnay and Müller-Thurgau (also known as Rivaner).

So eight varieties – five white and three black – were planted in 2003. In the first two years of operation, Jeanette and her husband continued to travel the European vineyards, meeting fellow growers who were happy to invite them into their cellars. ‘They don’t think of Belgium as a wine country. They were curious and so glad to have us visit. It was a hugely enriching experience because each grower has their own philosophy so you learn fast. My husband and I also took a course at Peter Klosse’s gastronomy academy, the Academie voor Gastronomie in Hoog Soeren in the Netherlands, to learn how to pair wine with food. We need to be able to advise people.’ In 2005 a mere 100 litres were put into production. The wines went on sale for the first time in 2008; the following year Bon Baron entered three vintages of its Acolon wine for the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and they immediately carried off a silver and two gold medals. Earlier that year the estate had won the prize for the Best Belgian Wine at the national Flemish Sommeliers competition, a feat it repeated in September 2011, this time for its Cabernet Dorsa. ‘Of course I’m delighted to have won this prize but today it is nothing more than a judges’ decision. We need to continue to improve the quality of our wines. Quality in Belgium has actually improved significantly over the last few years. Ry d’Argent, Aldeneyck, Chardonnay Meerdael, Domaine des Agaises and Entre-deux-Monts are just a few examples of these higher quality wines.’ Today the estate produces over 20,000 bottles. It has expanded into small plots in Profondeville, Wépion, Namur and Dinant and has just planted 15 hectares of vines in Houx, on the banks of the Meuse. ‘When the new plantations are ready, we will be kept busy all year round…’ □

Plus… Domaine du Chenoy (Emines) www.domaine-du-chenoy.com

Quality and flavour. Bon Baron white and red wines are growing in popularity and picking up more and more medals along the way.

Coude à Coude (Jemeppe-sur-Sambre) www.lecac.be Château de Bioul www.chateaudebioul.com

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Terroir

Discovering the origins of the famous beer Tourists from all over the world visit Maison Leffe, opposite the Citadel in Dinant, to discover the secrets of this c enturies-old beer. The Leffe brand goes back to 1240, when Nobertine canons at Leffe abbey decided to brew a beer as an alternative to the brackish water they had to drink each day. Plus, boiling the water during fermentation killed off the germs. Their activity came to a halt during the French Revolution and did not begin again until 1952, when Father Abbot Nys and Albert Lootvoet revived the abbey’s brewing tradition to produce a wide variety of beers. The Leffe tour takes place in the chapel of a former convent. It begins with touch screens explaining the brewing process before moving on to various interactive experiences based round beer flavours and aromas and culminating with a tasting of all nine varieties! The site also includes the Les Bains de Dinant thalassotherapy centre and the Hotel La Merveilleuse where you can stay in one of seven former nuns’ rooms or the four-room Mother Superior’s residence (rooms not available separately). Le Couvent de Bethléem’s four-course menu based entirely on Leffe beer (well, not the dessert) is a foodie’s paradise. Definitely one for the itinerary! □ M.V.

More info Maison Leffe

Charreau des Capucins, 23 – B-5500 Dinant +32 (82) 22 91 91 — www.leffe.com

Food and drink

Discover… The Valley Country is a haven for beer and cheese lovers. With Rochefort Abbey, which brews Namur’s only Trappist beer, and Maredsous Abbey, you’re on your way to paradise. Add a beautiful slice of cheese and you’ve reached seventh heaven. The region also has a few treats brewing for serious beer drinkers.

www.abbaye-rochefort.be — www.maredsous.be

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Terroir

Food and drink

‘50% of our produce comes from within a 50 km radius.’ Magasin d’ici, which translates literally as ‘local shop’, lives up to its name. In 2005 Frank Mestdagh read an article which struck a chord. Pierre Ozer, a Doctor of Geographical Sciences from the University of Liège, wrote about the number of kilometres travelled by the components of a three-course meal. ‘There were tomatoes from Morocco, prawns from Denmark, Australian wine, Argentinian beef, potatoes from Israel, lychees from Thailand, Peruvian bananas and more…,’ Frank Mestdagh remembers. ‘The whole lot totalled 135,000 km.’ And so the Magasin d’ici seed was sown. The entrepreneur got together with his business partner to try to come up with a project which could help change people’s buying habits. ‘We look for local producers who, although not necessarily organic, subscribe to a sustainable ethos.’ The first shop opened in 2013. Customer numbers are growing weekly, as is the average basket value. ‘People are buying into the idea. Apart from a few items, everything really does come from the local area. We also display the origin of our products and the number of kilometres they have travelled to reach our shelves. Strawberries from Upigny, lettuce from Sambreville, tomatoes from Ossogne, wine from Château de Bioul… all well-received by customers. Of course, we don’t stock shaving foam or toilet paper, but customers can at least do all their food shopping with us.’ At the end of 2014, the company won two rather major awards: the Namur Province sustainable development prize and Wallonia’s entrepreneurship award in the sustainable development category. □ M.V.

Discover… Pré gourmand In the beginning there was a field... and then, little by little, the idea of bringing it back to life began to take root. There were gourds in all shapes and sizes, green, black and pink tomatoes, Jerusalem artichokes and heritage vegetable varieties… and don’t forget the herbs! Soup made with long-forgotten vegetables, small fruit and edible flowers, all organic, produced without chemical fertilisers or pesticides. www.pregourmand.be

Championing local produce!

Plus… The Citadel gardens in Namur www.nature-namur.be Valériane organic expo at Namur www.valeriane.be The river contract http://environnement.wallonie.be/ contrat_riviere Marie Victorin Ecocentre at Vierves www.viroinval.be

Want to find out more? Visit www.paysdesvallees.be (section: Tourism and gastronomy)

More info

Magasin d’ici

Chaussée de Marche, 940 B-5100 Naninne +32 (81) 84 82 09 www.d-ici.be

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Terroir

Walks

Between history and legend 1888), who was well known for his travel journal about life along the Semois river. Famous organists come from all over Belgium and further afield to give recitals on the splendid Georg Westenfelder organ in the pretty little church.

Your visit will end with a walk through the Camp du Maquis, the only vestige of its kind from a dark heroic period of recent history, before you head back down to the starting point. Vresse does not have any accommodation options but has some lovely restaurants and pavement cafés.

Vresse

12 km

Level of difficulty: pleasant but challenging (very steep parts). Not recommended for families with young children.

01 Leaving from Vresse, you will pass through the village of Laforêt, recipient of the ‘Un des Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie’ [One of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia] accolade in the early 1990s. Laforêt is one of the few villages of Southern Ardennes which has changed little over time. As you wander along the small, steep streets you will notice the little old farms which, even if restored, have maintained the division between living quarters, stable and barn. Laforêt church, dating back to 1779, houses contemporary stations of the cross by Jacques Vander Elst and its truly unique multi-coloured ceiling is another major attraction.

04 Laforêt is also home to the Pinocchio puppet theatre, the only one of its kind in Namur province, where you can meet puppets of all the legendary Ardennes characters. The village is also known for its craft fair, which attracts almost 10,000 visitors each year and, an all-time favourite with summer walkers, the very famous ‘Pont de Claies’, a rustic bridge of woven branches attached to frail pillars driven right into the riverbed.

02 The village of Membre grew up along the Roman road from Reims to Cologne in the centre of a wide bend in the river, surrounded by high wooded hills. The Saloru viewpoint offers a magnificent panoramic view over the area. Discoveries of Roman coins and medals, and then cut and polished flints, point to very early civilisations in the area. Membre was the adopted home of painter Yvonne Tellier, who died in 2007, and writer Alphonse de Prémorel (1799-

After a restorative drink you can pay a visit to the local art centre, the Centre d’Interprétation d’Art de l’Ecole de Vresse, which earns Vresse its title of ‘Village d’Art’, or art village, and then take a quick look at Le Belge, a faithful wooden reproduction of the locomotive which left the Cockerill workshops in 1835.

Want to find out more? Visit www.paysdesvallees.be (section: Hiking)

The Valley Country D E ST I N AT IO N

visit the website

Fabulous ! An invaluable tourist portal, www.paysdesvallees.be is packed with places to visit, personalities worth a detour and detours worth the trouble... Things to do in Namur province. What you must not miss. Where to eat ? Where to stay ? Find all the answers at www.paysdesvallees.be !

Hiking

Attractions

Tourism and Gastronomy Creative tourism

Business Tourism

Tourism and Riding River Tourism Tourism and Cycling

Ch창teaux de la Meuse // Commemorations 14-18 // Beer in Namur Province // From the four corners of Europe in the footsteps of St James of Compostela // Wallonia, Destination Quality // Trade Fairs & Salons and lots more to discover at

www.paysdesvallees.be

D E ST I N AT IO N

Domain of the

Caves of Han

IN THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH, IN THE HEART OF THE WILD LIFE.

Belgium

www.grotte-de-han.be Highway E411, exit 23 Tel : +32(0)84 37 72 13

FTPN

D E ST I N AT IO N

-B o s s

iro y

udheure.be a e l e lacsd . w ww