Page 228 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

226  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

8 Limbourg d’Archéologie et du Folklore,
housed in an 18th-century
27 km (17 miles) E of Liège.
Road Map E2. * 6,000. £ @ townhouse, with antique
furnishings and a lace collection.
Set on a rocky spur above a
hairpin bend in the River Vesdre, E Centre Touristique de la Laine
Limbourg developed after 1033 et de la Mode
Rue de la Chapelle 24-30. Tel (087)
as the fortified capital of the 307920. Open 10am–5pm Tue–
Duchy of Limburg, a historic Sun.& 9 7 ∑ aqualaine.be
region between the Meuse P Musée des Beaux-Arts et de
and the city of Aachen. As the la Céramique
vestiges of the city walls testify, Rue Renier 17. Tel (087) 331695.
Limbourg was a military Open 2–5pm Mon, Wed & Sat, 3–
stronghold, besieged on many 6pm Sun. & ∑ paysdevesdre.be One of many picturesque fountains in the
occasions – notably in 1578 by original spa town
the Spanish, in 1675 by French
king Louis XIV and in 1715 by the 0 Theux q Spa
Austrians. Today, the upper town, 20 km (12 miles) SE of Liège. 28 km (17 miles) SE of Liège.
where little has changed since Road Map E3. * 12,000. £ @ Road Map E3. * 10,600. £ @
the 18th century, is picturesque, ∑ theux.be n Place Royale 41; (087) 795353.
with tree-lined cobbled streets ∑ villedespa.be
and window boxes full of flowers. The attractive town of Theux
developed in the shadow of The heyday of Spa was in the
the medieval Château de 18th and 19th centuries, when
9 Verviers Franchimont. The town was the well-to-do came here to take
sacked by Charles the Bold, Duke the waters, turning the town’s
20 km (12 miles) E of Liège.
Road Map E3. * 55,750. £ @ of Burgundy, in 1468, during his name into a generic term for
n Maison du Tourisme du Pays de conquest of Liège. The castle was water therapy. Spa retains a
Vesdre, Rue Jules Cerexhe 86; (087) reinforced in the 16th century by leisurely grandeur, with its Neo-
307926. ∑ paysdevesdre.be Erard de la Marck, Prince-Bishop Classical Hôtel de Ville, the
of Liège, but fell into ruin after original, now disused baths and
Straddling the River Vesdre, the 1780s. Theux is also noted the casino. Six springs can still
which was vital to the textile for its remarkable Église Sts- be visited, including the Pouhon
industry, Verviers is adorned Hermès-et-Alexandre. A hall- Pierre-le-Grand, housed in an
with numerous fountains and church built from the 9th-century elegant stone pavilion built in
water features, and calls itself onwards in Gothic and Romanesque 1880. The modern Thermes de
the Walloon Capital of Water. styles, its naves have rare, painted, Spa (Baths) are at the top of a
Belgium’s industrial revolution flat ceilings. hill, accessed by cable railway.
began here in 1799, when the Spa also has three intriguing
English entrepreneur William Environs museums. Sharing the same
Cockerill (1759–1832) established Banneux, 6 km (4 miles) to the location at the Villa Royale are
steam-powered woollen textile west, is a major pilgrimage site, Musée de la Ville d’Eaux and
mills. This history is remembered where in 1933 apparitions of Musée Spadois du Cheval:
in the exhibits of Centre the Virgin of the Poor revealed the former has a collection
Touristique de la Laine et de a healing spring to 11-year-old of antique, intricately painted
la Mode, set out in a restored Mariette Beco. wooden souvenirs (jolités), while
Neo-Classical wool factory. The the latter is devoted to horse-racing
Musée des Beaux-Arts et de E Château de Franchimont and carriages. The enterprising
la Céramique has a major Allée du Château. Tel (087) 530489. Musée de la Lessive takes a
collection of porcelain and art. Open Easter, Apr–Oct & 1 Nov. & 9 historical look at laundry.
There is also the Musée - ∑ chateau-franchimont.be
 Thermes de Spa
Colline d’Annette et Lubin.
Tel (087) 772560. Open Mar–Oct:
2–6pm daily. & 7
∑ thermesdespa.be
P Villa Royale
Avenue Reine Astrid 77b.
Tel (087) 774486. Open daily.
& 7 ∑ spavillaroyale.be
E Musée de la Lessive
Rue Hanster 10. Tel (087) 771418.
Open Easter & Jul–Aug: 2–6pm daily;
Moated entrance to the atmospheric ruins of Château de Franchimont Mar–Oct: 2–6pm Sat. &
For hotels and restaurants see pp270–71 and pp290–91

226-227_EW_Belgium.indd 226 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