Page 134 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

GPS_134-135_Belgium_Intro.qxd 7/6/01 11:20 AM Page 134//001 9:06 AM Page 134 01 11:20 AM Page 13401 11:20 AM Page 1301//0
GPS_134-135_Belgium_Intro.qxd 7/6/
GPS_134-135_Belgium_Intro.qxd 7/6/ (TEXT BLACK plate)

134 B EL G IUM A N D LUXEM BO UR G

BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG
ELGIUM AND ITS dimin- Simple soup can turn out to
utive neighbour have be a ‘relay race’ of several
B much in common: different flavours; a humble
they fall naturally into the espresso may be elaborated
same section. Many of their old with a side order of
castles and pretty half-timbered whipped cream and
mansions have been converted pralines. If the eating
into luxury hotels, and everywhere gets too much, you could
you will find an emphasis on food. try resting your liver at a
Some hotels do two rounds of ‘thermal centre’, such as one of those
breakfast (the second starting at found in the Belgian town of Spa –
11am). Expect generous portions. parent of ‘health farms’ worldwide.
treatments don’t
appeal, then make
your way to Namur,
the gastronomic
capital of Belgium.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg has two
aspects: the hilly
Ardennes in the north
and the farmland of
the south – called the
Bon Pays or Gutland
(Good Land). The
Grand Duchy
(population about
400,000) has its own
steel industry which
Shamrock, Maarkedal, page 141, great food and landscaped gardens is concentrated in the
southwest. The rest of
BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURGLL Some wonderful places to the country is covered in
R R
REGION BY REGIONRR stay here include a town- vineyards, particularly the
house hotel dating from the slopes on either side of the
ELGIUM DIVIDES neatly into 16th century, and an Art Moselle river.
B B Bnorth and south, along the Deco villa. In Flanders, to the
so-called ‘language divide’ southwest, there’s the chance HIGHLIGHTS
(see below), formalised to stay in a couple of quay-
constitutionally in 1962. In the side hotels in Bruges, and HEPLACES to stay illustrated
southeastern corner, on the visit Ghent, with its artistic Ton these introductory
border with Germany, is the and architectural treasures. pages are by no means the
999-sq mile (2,600 sq km) only highlights of this section.
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The South Other favourites include: Le
The Walloon south begins at Val d’Amblève at Stavelot
The North the province of Hainaut. To (page 141), a half-timbered
The Flemish north and the the east are the Ardennes, an house in the Liège countryside,
Walloon south of Belgium area of thickly forested hills combining understated but
have different languages, which also spill over into smart decoration with great
communities and indeed Luxembourg and northeast- food; and De Witte Lelie in
administrations. The capital, ern France. Whereas the Antwerp (page 138), three
Brussels, is on the dividing French Ardennes are indust- 16th-century houses knocked
line separating the two. In the rialised, the Belgian Ardennes together to make an unusual
north are the provinces of are largely unspoilt, and some B&B hotel – grand and spac-
West and East Flanders, of the region’s most beautiful ious, with high ceilings, but an
Antwerp, Limburg and the hill-top castles have been informal atmosphere.
upper reaches of Brabant. converted into hotels. The
The region is flat and very Ardennes town of Spa was FOOD AND DRINK
similar to Holland. Antwerp noted in Roman times by
mixes sleaze and wealth in Pliny the Elder as a health ELGIANS ARE keen to point
equal measure, is Europe’s resort, and there are some B B Bout that their country con-
second largest port and centre interesting places to stay in tains more Michelin-starred
of the world diamond trade. and around the town. If the restaurants than France. Dishes