Page 212 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

210  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

Cruise boats line up along the tree-lined banks of the River Meuse
r Abbaye de Environs this stretch. Fully-equipped
Maredsous With Railbikes of the Molignée, sightseeing boats make
visitors can pedal along the scheduled excursions up and
Rue de Maredsous 11, Denée; 12 km Molignée valley on a four- down the river. The main
(7 miles) NW of Dinant. Road Map D3. person draisine (railbike), on departure points are at Dinant
Tel (082) 698211. Open daily. 7 - disused railway lines linking and Namur. The round-trip
= ∑ maredsous.com
Falaën, Maredsous and Warnant. between the two takes about
A vast Neo-Gothic monastery Falaën, set 4 km (3 miles) southeast 9 hours, but there are numerous
founded by the Benedictines of Maredsous, has the ruins of a shorter trips to points in
in 1872, Abbaye de Maredsous mighty 14th-century castle, between. It is necessary,
is set in the tranquil Molignée Château-Fort de Montaigle, however, to check about
valley and built in austere grey which was des troyed by the landing possibilities as most
stone. The abbey offers insight French in 1554. boat trips do not stop at their
into the lives of the monks and destination, but simply turn
a chance to sample two of the Railbikes of the Molignée round. Landscape, and the
institution’s famous products – Rue de la Molignée 116, Anhée. pleasure of being on water,
a soft, orange-rind cheese and Tel (082) 699079. Open daily (Falaën); are the main attractions. The
the res pec ted abbey beer. The Apr–Oct: Tue–Sun (Warnant). & 7 river banks are dotted with
grounds have gardens, a ∑ draisine.be rocky outcrops and ruined
playground and walks into P Château-Fort de Montaigle castles. Points in between
the surrounding countryside. Rue du Marteau 10, Falaën. Tel (082) include the pretty towns of
There is also a shop selling 699585. Open Jul–Aug: daily; Apr–Jun Profondeville and Wépion,
regional produce at the & Sep–Oct: Sat & Sun. & the most famous source of
Centre d’Acceuil St-Joseph. ∑ montaigle.be strawberries in Belgium.
South of Dinant, the stretch
up to Hastière and Waulsort is
t River Meuse also rewarding and includes the
splendid castle at Freÿr. The main
Road Map D3. n La Compagnie des
Bateaux Touristes de la Meuse, Rue season for river trips runs from
Daoust 64, Dinant; (082) 223670. May to September, with mid-
∑ croisieres-mosanes.be July to late August being busiest.
Flowing north out of France,
River Meuse enters Belgium via y Château de Freÿr
the Province of Namur, coursing Domaine de Freÿr, Hastière; 5 km
past Hastière and the Château (3 miles) S of Dinant. Road Map D3.
de Freÿr to Dinant (see p209), Tel (082) 222200. 4 Open Apr–Jun &
and then on to Namur (see Sep–mid-Nov: Sat, Sun & public hols;
pp206–207). Here, it is joined by Jul–Aug: 11am–5pm Tue–Fri. & 8
River Sambre and heads east to ∑ freyr.be
Liège. The prettiest part runs
between Dinant and Namur One of the most impressive
The soaring and polished chancel of the and many long-established châteaux in Belgium stands
Abbaye de Maredsous boat cruises offer trips along right beside the broad River
For hotels and restaurants see pp269–70 and pp289–90

210-211_EW_Belgium.indd 210 18/10/16 3:02 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm