Page 180 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

178  B e LG iu M AND L uxe MBO u RG R e G i ON B y R e G i ON

The Ardennes

The region known as the Ardennes stretches across southern
Belgium and into Luxembourg, France and Germany. Located Brussels
south of the River Meuse, it comprises forested hills and valleys BELGIUM
cut by a network of winding, picturesque rivers, notably the Sambre Meuse Amblève
Lesse, Semois, Ourthe and Amblève. Namur, Liège and Dinant
are the main urban centres, but the Ardennes is predominantly Ourthe
rural and sparsely populated, with river-basin farms and small Semois
villages, and areas of upland pasture. The Romans named this FRANCE LUX.
forested land after the local Celtic goddess Arduinna. For Locator Map
centuries, it was a backwater, but today its large expanses of Ardennes
unspoilt nature attract numerous visitors who come to walk,
cycle, canoe or simply to motor and enjoy the views.

The River Meuse (see p210) forms the natural northern boundary to the
Ardennes region. This navigable waterway links the cities of Dinant and
Namur to Liège. Beyond that, it leads eventually to the North Sea. When
Wallonia was the centre of Belgium’s old heavy industries, the river was
a vital transport artery.
An Astonishing Landcape
Beauty and variety of landscape: these
are the principal attractions of the
Ardennes. In places, the rivers and hills
conspire to produce dramatic effects,
as seen at the famous Tombeau du
Géant (The Giant’s Tomb), a strangely
regular wooded hill almost encircled
by a typically extravagant loop of the
River Semois.

Han-sur-Lesse (see p215) has
the best of the many caves
that are open to public. Over
thousands of years, water
has drilled away the limestone Kayaking (see p305) is a major holiday pursuit on rivers such
rock, creating spectacular as the Semois, Amblève and Ourthe. Often too rocky for larger
tunnels and galleries dripping boats, they provide excellent kayaking conditions as they wind
with stalactites. their way through steep, picturesque valleys.

178-179_EW_Belgium.indd 178 16/10/14 3:32 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Feature template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.3)
Date 18th October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm