Are you in the Ardennes this summer? Then you must have been to La Roche-en-Ardenne! As locals, connoisseurs and lovers of the Ardennes region, we give you the 7 best tips for an unforgettable visit to La Roche-en-Ardenne.
La Roche-en-Ardenne is a charming little town in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes with a great attraction for tourists. The sight of the town is dominated by the feudal castle from the 11th century. La Roche is the ideal base for hikes, mountain bike rides and other activities in the Ardennes nature. Thanks to its beautiful location on the river Ourthe, the town is very popular with kayakers and canoeists.
Tip1: Castle ruins of La Roche
High above the town are the ruins of the medieval castle of La Roche, the town’s tourist attraction. According to legend, the ruins are still inhabited by the ghost Berthe of La Roche. On a visit to the ruins, you will learn all about Berthe. And in summer, you can watch her walk the walls of the castle from a terrace at night!
Tip 2: Battle of the Bulge Museum
La Roche-en-Ardenne was the site of heavy fighting during the Ardennes Offensive in WWII. This museum tells the story of the devastating Battle of the Bulge. It has a large collection of weapons and objects donated by veterans who took part in the battle.
Tip 3: Gibier La Roche wildlife park
In this wildlife parkyou will encounter indigenous and other European animal species in an exceptionally green environment. During the walk of over a kilometre, you can admire deer, hinds, fallow deer, mouflons, wolves, lynxes, wild cats, foxes, owls and farm animals.
Tip 4: Mountain biking
You can find brilliant mountainbike around La Roche en Ardenne with different lengths and levels of difficulty. At Brandsport, you rent a mountain bike for as little as €21 and get a free route map. You start from a location at altitude so you don’t have to climb. It is wise to book mountain bikes in advance to avoid disappointment.
Tip 5: Parc Chlorophylle
During a walk through this park you will learn all about life in the forest through 26 wooden attractions. It is a green paradise including a playground, adventure trail for children, observation hut and a hut for painting and sculpting. A wooden bridge allows you to take part of the walk between the tops of the trees.
Tip 6: Kayaking on the river Ourthe
The Ourthe makes a loop past La Roche, making it seem like the town is surrounded by the river. This summer all rivers in the Ardennes are closed due to the drought, but at Brandsport you can go kayaking on a dammed-up section of the Ourthe, winding through the nature park in a beautiful deep valley. You can also enjoy swimming, hiking and grabbing a terrace there. Reserve your kayak in advance.
Tip 7: Artisan chocolate factory
Cyril Chocolat is an artisan chocolate factory where guided tours and live demonstrations are given. Discover how chocolates and chocolate figurines used to be made. And visit the small museum afterwards. Of course, there will be plenty of tasting!
Sources:
• VVV La Roche-en-Ardenne – tourist center
• Top 10 attractions
• TripAdvisor