This article first appeared in My Travelogue by Bhushavali
A TRAIN RIDE ALONG THE TERRES-DE-MEUSE
Just like how I traveled from Charleroi to LaBuissiere by train, along to
river Sambre, this time I took the train & bus along the river Meuse. A
portion of river Meuse, that connects Namur and Liege goes via Andenne, Huy,
and other little towns and villages. So here's all about a long weekend trip from Brussels along the river Meuse. This region is called Terres-de-Meuse which literally means, the 'lands of Meuse'!
HOW TO VISIT TERRES-DE-MEUSE BY TRAIN?
Thanks to SNCB-NMBS Trains, it is super easy to explore this location by train. Take a train from Brussels to Namur; then take the train that connects Namur to Liege. This train stops at Marche-les-Dames, Nameche, Sclaigneaux, Andenne, Huy, Leman, Flemalle, etc. There's something to do near each of these railway stations! Go to Huy Itinerary below, for more info!
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Yes, this is Belgium!
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HUY CITADEL (FORTRESS OF HUY) - TOP THINGS TO DO IN HUY
Looking for the perfect spot to stop along the river Meuse, on the map, I came
across Huy. Huy is a relatively larger town and has a few accommodation
options and some restaurants. At its heart is a fantastic fort which is
considered one of the 4 Wonders of Huy.
History of Fortress of Huy: The current fort was built by the Dutch in
1818-1823 on the site where some kind of castle that existed already since the
9th C CE, called Li Tchestia. It never functioned as an actual fort but was
mostly used as a prison. Much later, during WWII, it was occupied by the Axis
troops (Germans & co.). The fort was used during WWII as concentration
camps, prison cells, interrogation camps, detention rooms, etc. More than 7000
prisoners were held up here during the war times.
Virtual tour of the Fortress of Huy: Today, the various rooms of the
fort, explain each of these. There's a room where the 16th C CE well is still
there along with the pulley system. The well was super deep and while
photographing it the only thing I could think of, was not to drop the phone
into it! There's also a separate pulley by itself for kids to try out! The
authentic prison cells built during WWII are still intact. You can go inside
those. There's a section of the fort that also showcases medieval games
including the Peruvian Sapo game!
Connection between Nord-Pas-de-Calais & Huy: Another section is
dedicated to the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin! I had visited
Nord-Pas-de-Calais just about a month before I was at Huy and was quite
intrigued by the connection! Here's the thing - when the Nazi occupation of
the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region happened, the miners went on strike! This strike
was the largest and longest strike of all time in Europe! In 1941, the
number of strikers reached 1,00,000 and that's when many were arrested and 273
of them were imprisoned in the Fortress of Huy! They were here from May 25 to
June 20 after which they were sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp!
This part of the museum talks about everything in this region during the war -
medicine, communication, families of the miners, letters & diaries of the
inmates, etc. One of the rooms also served as a chapel during these turbulent
times. Bits & pieces of the frescoes in the chapel, still exist. There's
also a windmill in one of the rooms which was probably used to feed the
inmates.
Panorama & the view of Bridges: The last stop within the fortress
was of course the terrace for a panoramic view. It was impeccable! It was
super windy and thanks to the spring season when we visited here, was filled
with daisies and looked so pretty! From atop the citadel, the view of the
bridges across the river is also fantastic, esp., of Li Pontia (King Baudouin Bridge), which is also one more of the 4 Wonders of Huy! Though the current bridge
belongs to 20th C CE, historically, the first stone bridge had been built here
in 1294-1303. Another charming bridge is the Iron Bridge which was the
first railway bridge built in 1872! This was destroyed during WWI to stop
German advancement and was rebuilt in 1924. Located almost just in front of
the Citadel, currently, it is a pedestrian-only bridge.
Where is the Fortress of Huy (Huy Citadel) (on Google Maps)? Fort de Huy
Starting point (base) of the Fortress of Huy (Huy Citadel): Chemin du Comte Bazin
How to reach the Fortress of Huy (Huy Citadel): 1.5km (17 mins walk or 6 stops on LeTEC Bus route 12) from Huy Railway
Station. c
Fortress of Huy (Huy Citadel) tickets: €4.5
Fortress of Huy (Huy Citadel) timings: Open
only from April to October. Weekends, holidays & school vacations: 10:00AM
to 6:00PM; Otherwise: 9:30AM to 5:00PM
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COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF OUR LADY AND SAINT DOMITIAN - FREE THINGS TO DO IN
HUY
Steps away from the base of the Citadel is the Collegiate Church of Our Lady
of Huy and Saint Domitian which also houses one of the 4 Wonders of Huy, the
Rose Window. This Gothic cathedral was built throughout the 14th C CE which
means that it's a mix of high Gothic and late Gothic with its flamboyant
style!
The Rose Window of 1508 CE, is the biggest of its kind in Wallonia! It
measures 6m in diameter outside and 9m inside!
The treasury of the current church is housed in the oldest part of the
church, its Romanesque crypt which dates back to 1066 CE. The treasury of
the Church has 4 important shrines. These are 4 of the hardly 20 remaining
shrines of the Rheno-Mosan era (Romanesque era of the Meuse-Rhine region).
There were also some sculptures that were brought here from the Saint
Mengold Church after it was deconsecrated, some that were as old as 12th C
CE.
Where is the Collégiale Notre-Dame et Saint-Domitien (Huy
Church) (on Google Maps)? Collégiale Notre-Dame et Saint-Domitien
How to reach the Collégiale Notre-Dame et Saint-Domitien (Huy Church): 1.2km (15 mins walk or 5 stops by
LeTEC Bus Route 12) from Huy Railway Station. 2 mins from Huy Citadel.
Collégiale Notre-Dame et Saint-Domitien (Huy Church) tickets: Free
Collégiale Notre-Dame et Saint-Domitien (Huy Church) timings: Tue-Sun - 10:00AM to
12:00Noon and 1:00PM to 06:00PM. Closed on Mondays. Closes at 4:00PM in
winters.
Collégiale Notre-Dame et Saint-Domitien (Huy Church)
Treasury tickets: €3
Collégiale Notre-Dame et Saint-Domitien (Huy Church)
Treasury timings: Apr-June & Sept -
1:00PM to 5:00PM only during weekend; July & Aug: Everyday 2:00PM to
5:00PM
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Rue des Frères Mineurs
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Rue des Ramparts
HISTORIC TOWN OF HUY - OLD HUY - CHARMING TOWNS OF WALLONIA
The historic town of Huy is absolutely charming. The town is in 2 sections, on
either side of the river Meuse. The historic town of Huy is a part of the
right bank. Apart from the Citadel and the Collegiate Church of Our Lady, the
rest of the historic town can be walked around and it is one of the things you
should not miss in Huy.
The first stop has to the Grand Place. Right at the center here is the
fountain called the Li Bassina Fountain (the last of the 4 Wonders
of Huy).
The thing that captured my attention here is the public art sculptures. There
are 2 compositions here and Atyudarini loved them both because both featured
kids! One is called 'Children Playing with Marbles' featuring 3 kids,
sculpted by Ursula Förster in 1992 and another is of a little child
playing an accordion titled 'Strange Consonances' created by André
Bartiaux in 1993.
Steps away from the Grand Place is the Bethlehem Portal. This is
technically, the behind the Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Huy but not
attached/associated with the church, and is a separate structure. The whole
Nativity story incl. Adoration of the Magi, Annunciation of the Shepherds,
etc. have all been depicted in the relief sculptures. The Bethlehem Portal in
Huy is an exceptional example of Gothic Architecture in Belgium. The strange
thing is, its history is lost and its history prior to 16th C CE is unknown!
Literally it is the starting point of the Parvis Théoduin de Bavière street
which leads to Quai the Namur (on the river bank beside the Tourism Office of
Huy).
The next stop was the Saint Mengold church with Nokin House just
beside it. The earliest accounts on Saint Mengold Church date back to the 12th
C CE. Saint Mengold is the town's 2nd patron saint (following St.Domitien) as
well as the 9th Count. After undergoing a couple of restorations, in 1979 it
was deconsecrated and today it is a cultural space. When I visited an art
exhibition was happening. Nokin House is a 16th C CE building of early Gothic
architecture as well. It gets its name from boxer Albert Nokin who ran a cafe
here in early 20th C CE. This too serves as an exhibition hall/ cultural
center now.
My next stop was the Communal Museum of Huy housed in the
historic Friars Minor Monastery. The street beside it is called
Rue des Frères Mineurs. It was late in the evening and I couldn't visit
the museum so I started walking down Rue des Frères Mineurs. This is
perhaps the most beautiful street in Belgium that I've been to -
it's not just a cobbled street, but also cobbled walls on either side and a
cobbled tiny stone bridge house across the street and nothing else at
all!!! One of the houses here is the historic
Governer's Mansion which dates back to 1535. The other side of the
street leads to Place Verte and another tiny street called
Rue des Cloches. This was also very charming in a different way; it's a
staircase street, a cobbled parapet wall on one side, and residences on
the other! I have to say, Vieux Huy is one of the most picturesque,
Instagrammable places in Belgium. Right here at the intersection of Rue
des Frères Mineurs and Rue des Cloches is the
oldest house of Huy called the Maison près la Tour (which
literally means the house near the tower); the Gothic civil architecture
belongs to the late 13th C CE.
When Huy has such a magnificent fortress it only means that the city would
have been surrounded by an equally magnificent outer fortification
wall/ramparts. Parts of the Ramparts of Huy are still visible in
certain places incl. Rue des Ramparts! There's a tiny playground here as well, but it is a very good place to sit
out and have a picnic.
Further ahead Rue des Ramparts takes you to the
Chemin des Chapelles which is also called the Wall of Huy, because this
super inclined road is the finishing point of the Flèche Wallonne cycling
race! There's nothing to 'see' here per se.
Places to visit in Historic Town of Huy (on Google Maps): Grand Place, Children Playing with Marbles sculpture, Strange Consonances sculpture, Bethlehem Portal,
Saint Mengold Church, Nokin House, Friars Minor Monastery, Rue des Frères Mineurs, Governer's Mansion, Rue des Cloches, Maison près la Tour, Rue des Ramparts
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YEUNTEN LING TIBETIAN INSTITUTE - UNUSUAL THINGS TO DO IN HUY
I came across this place on Google Maps and was intrigued. Clicked into it and
voila, a Buddhist institute with a typical temple that reminded me much of
Buddhapadipa Temple in London and Bylaguppe Namdroling Monastery in Coorg! I was so so
surprised to find it here and I definitely had to visit.
History of the Tibetian Buddhist Temple in Belgium: The first ever
Tibetian center in Belgium was set up in Antwerp in 1975 for the Indian
Buddhists of the region. Dorje Chang Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche of the monastery of
Sonada in Darjeeling sent Lama Ogyen to set up the institute here. After
moving to a couple of other locations to accommodate the growing number of
devotees, the temple in the Huy was set up in 2006 and was inaugurated by
Dalai Lama. This is now called the 'Old Temple'. In the course of time, the
Yeunten Ling Tibetian Institute became one of the important Buddhist teaching
centers in Europe. The 'New Temple' was built later on and the huge Buddha
statue was inaugurated in 2012, again by Dalai Lama.
Guided tour of the Tibetian Buddist temple in Belgium: Today, there are
2 temples (New Temple, Old Temple), 1 stupa, 1 library, and 1 open-air Buddha
sculpture with Prayer wheels, to see here. While the stupa and the open-air
sculpture are open to all the 2 temples and the library can only be visited
during a guided tour. The tours are only in French or Dutch, however since the
temples cannot be visited unless you're in one, that's the only way to go even
if you don't know either of the languages. If you don't know either language,
I suggest you go for the Dutch tour because they can manage some English and
the group size is generally smaller.
As soon as you enter, you'll see the typical archway with Dharma Chakra (the
Wheel of Righteousness) flanked by a deer on either side (representing the
First Sermon). The next thing that will definitely catch your eye is the big
wall of colorful Prayer Flags. At this central courtyard is the ticket office
as well and here's where the tour begins.
The huge Buddha statue in the new temple was majestic. On either side are 2
sculptures of Boddhisatva. There are scrolls all around that talk about birth,
life, insights (the chariot ride with Channa), enlightenment, the first
sermon, taming of Nalagiri, and all the way until the death of Buddha. It was
time for me to explain the scrolls to Atyudarini from the snippets we've
already read on Amar Chitra Katha! There are prayer texts written in many
places, not only on scrolls but also on pillars, ceilings, etc in Classical
Tibetian Language.
The open-air Buddha has huge as well, and just opposite the entrance of the
new Temple. This statue is surrounded by prayer wheels. The tour then
continues inside to have a quick look at the library and the Old Temple. The
Old Temple only has frescoes and not a sculpture. This is absolutely charming
and much more quaint and peaceful and has such good vibes! The last stop of
the tour is the Stupa which is what you'll see first as soon as you enter the
premises, closer to the car park.
This is in a vast green area, where you can sit down, relax, have a picnic,
etc. That said, there's no eatery per se here, but there's a canteen for the
resident students & retreat guests. You get a drink, biscuits & snacks
at the canteen, at the end of the tour. But if you need anything more than
that, you need to pack it and bring it.
Keep in mind that this is a religious institution, so wear
appropriate clothing. You can definitely visit whether or not you're a
Buddhist by faith. It would be a good idea to wear shoes that are easy to take
off and put on - the 2 temples & the stupa require you to remove the shoes
at the door.
Where is Yeunten Ling Tibetian Institute (Buddhist Temple in Huy
Belgium)? Institut Tibétain Yeunten Ling
How to reach Yeunten Ling Tibetian Institute (Buddhist Temple in Huy Belgium)? 3.5km from Huy Railway Station. 2km (30 mins walk) from Grand Place &
Hotel Porta Nova 21.
Yeunten Ling Tibetian Institute (Buddhist Temple in Huy Belgium) Guided
Tour Tickets: €8
Yeunten Ling Tibetian Institute (Buddhist Temple in Huy Belgium) Guided
Tour Timings: Every Sunday 1:30PM. It is not possible to book online. Go here at 1:15PM and
register.
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Colza Plantation
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BEN-AHIN LE PETIT PARC - THINGS TO DO IN HUY WITH KIDS
The railway station just next to Huy is Bas-Oha. Ben-Ahin Petit Parc is about
2km from Bas-Oha, however on the other side of the river and it isn't
possible! So, the only way to go here easily is by bus. Le Petit Parc, as the
name suggests, is 'a small park'. As soon as you get in, you see the wolves!
There are about 4 wolves in a separate section. Further ahead, beside the
parking lot are the sheep and goats. Walking ahead, there are the alpacas,
poneys, and donkeys. Beyond that was a camel! I was pretty surprised to see a
camel there and it was the first time Atyudarini was seeing one in her
life!
Further ahead was an enclosure for Marmosets. They are quite amusing animals.
There were 3 marmosets and they were super interactive and probably the
favorite of Atyudarini. Then there's an enclosure for squirrels as well. The
squirrels were quite friendly and interactive as well. There were quite a few
exercise set-ups for the squirrels (like the guinea pig exercise toys). There
were some enclosures for birds - Pheasants, Cranes, etc. It was evening by
then and guess what, the wolves howled together before retiring for the day.
There's a nice little cafe and a playground too. It was just a perfect little
park for the adults to unwind with a cup of coffee while the kids hit the
playground.
The small walk from the bus stop to Le Petit Parc requires a special mention. This is where an entire field was filled with Colza plantation (Rapeseed) and it was in full bloom when we went. A yellow patch that was way too picturesque, against the hilly backdrop!
Where is Le Petit Parc Ben Ahin (on Google Maps): Le Petit Parc
How to reach Le Petit Parc Ben Ahin? The
nearest bus stop to Le Petit Parc Ben Ahin is Ben Ahin Ecole which is 700m (8
mins walk) away. LeTEC Bus Route 12 connects Huy Railway Station to Ben Ahin
Ecole. There's a bus every hour and the journey takes 15 mins.
Le Petit Parc Ben Ahin Tickets: €4
Le Petit Parc Ben Ahin Timings: Tue to Sun
10:00AM to 8:00PM
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The realistic sculpture of Scladina
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ESPACE MUSEAL D'ANDENNE - THINGS TO DO IN ANDENNE
The next railway station after Bas-Oha is Andenne, which is also a relatively
bigger town, like that of Huy. A short walk from the railway station took us
to EMA (Espace Museal d'Andenne) housed in Le Phare. The museum is in 3
levels, one each for Ceramics, Prehistory, and temporary exhibitions.
The prehistory level has been so well made to make it interesting for children
and Atyudarini loved it. The first display is of skulls of various primates
from Australopithecus sediba, all the way to Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens.
Further ahead are a few videos of archaeologists at work and then comes the
main area which has a very realistic sculpture of Scladina, the daughter of
the soil!!!
Who is Scladina? Scladina was a Neanderthal child whose bones were discovered in
the Sclaigneaux Caves (more details below; the caves can be visited too). The sculpture is freakishly realistic. She was
surrounded by various artifacts and interactive displays which explained all
about it! The one that Atyudarini loved the most was an interactive digital
display (like a video game) in which you have to help Scladina hunt a deer,
drag the carcass to her cave, skin it for clothing, and roast it for meat! In
the process, the video teaches about the precision & stealth needed to
hunt, the effort needed to move the carcass, how to skin a deer, etc.
A
section is dedicated to other animals. The lower floor is dedicated primarily to Ceramics and all the other
specialties of Andenne. This also has an interactive digital display on how to
make a ceramic vase, ways to decorate it, and how to bake it in a kiln.
Where is Espace Museal d'Andenne (on Google Maps): Espace Museal d'Andenne
How to reach Espace Museal d'Andenne? 1.3km (17 mins walk) from Andenne
railway station
Espace Museal d'Andenne Tickets: €8 (included in museumPASSmusées)
Espace Museal d'Andenne Timings: Tue to Sun 10:00AM to 6:00PM
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SCLAYN/SCLADINA CAVE - THINGS TO DO IN SCLAIGNEAUX
If you've visited Espace Museal D'Andenne, you'd definitely want to visit
Sclayn Cave where the archaeology associated with it happened. So there we
went. It is possible to go into these caves only by a guided tour. This is
closer to the next railway station Sclaigneaux.
The tour was quite child-friendly and the guide began it with toys! First, she
showed toys of Neanderthals and Homosapies and then a long tape that explained
the timeline from dinos to Neanderthals to mammoths to us! Then she introduced
who Scladina was, and since we had already visited Espace Museal d'Andenne,
Atyudarini had a very clear idea about her. She showed us replicas of some of Scladina's bones unearthed here. Soon, it was time to head to the
cave. A very short hike, and we were at the entrance of the cave. The Scalyn
cave is the largest Belgian prehistoric excavation site that is still being
excavated and accessible to the public! The first chamber is dedicated to
explaining how excavation happens, the difference between rocks & fossils,
how are the fossils cleaned, etc. Again, the guide made it all in a
child-friendly way. Next, we went further down into the cave filled with
stalactites and stalagmites. Next, the guide showed us several fossils that
were embedded in the ground there as well as a few fossils excavated from
there including a bear jaw with a tooth! Archaeologists have discovered flint tools, bones from mammoths, bears, and
hyenas, as well as Scladina's bones here.
Playground near Scladina/Scalyn cave: We did reach the caves about an
hour earlier which meant we had to kill some time. So I headed off to the
riverfront with Atyudarini. Luckily there were this little playground and
picnic tables right there to serve the cyclists as the RAVel runs along the
river Meuse.
Where is Scladina/Scalyn Cave in Andenne (on Google Maps)? Centre Archéologique de la Grotte Scladina
How to reach Scladina/Scalyn Cave in Andenne? 1.2km (14 mins walk) from Sclaigneaux
Railway Station. The last 300m is a bit uphill.
Phone number for reservation at Scladina/Scalyn Cave: +32 (0)85 84 96 95
Scladina/Scalyn Cave in Andenne Tickets: €8
Scladina/Scalyn Cave in Andenne Timings:
Open only from April to August. Reservation by phone necessary.
Apr-June: Sundays & Public holidays only - French tours at 2:00PM. Dutch tours at 11:00AM
Spring
& Summer school vacations: Wed to Fri - French tours only at 2:00PM;
Weekends -you French tours at 2:00PM. Dutch tours at 11:00AM
Where is the playground near Scladina/Scalyn Cave in Andenne (on Google Maps)? Plaine de Jeux
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A picnic with MTR Puliogare & Haldirams Murukku along the River Meuse at Andenne!
SAMSON FORTRESS - THINGS TO DO IN NAMECHE
The next railway station is Nameche and here are the ruins of the historic
Samson Fortress. The fort is in complete ruins and it requires a hike through
a wild wooded area without a trail to reach atop, but that's totally worth it.
The view of River Meuse here is stunning from here and you can often see goats
grazing around.
Samson Fortress was built to look over River Meuse and River Samson from up
above. A castle has been here forever - since Roman times, through Merovingian
times, and later. In the 9th C CE, the fortress withstood the assaults of
the Normans, but later as canons began to be used in wars, the fortress
couldn't withstand them. Also, Namur Citadelle started gaining more importance
and this fell into disuse. By 17th C CE, it was demolished and today all
that's left is ruins!
Where is Samson Fortress in Nameche (on Google Maps)? Forteresse de Samson
How to reach Samson Fortress in Nameche? There is no way-marked trail to go to
Samson Fortress, you'll just have to hike through a dirt track to go atop
the Samson Fortress. There are 2 starting points to reach here -
beside Ruelle Moineresse 3 (ideal) and beside Rue de Mosseroux 14. Below is a hiking route via Komoot.
Samson Fortress in Nameche Tickets: Free
Samson Fortress in Nameche Timings: 24x7
Samson Fortress in Nameche Hiking Route: 3km loop
route via
Komoot. Walk 5 mins (400m) across the bridge, and get down the stairs to reach the
RAVel path beside the river which is on this 3km loop.
ABBAYE NOTRE DAME DU VIVIER - THINGS TO DO IN MARCHE-LES-DAMES
I'm yet to visit here, so here's some basic information. Abbaye Notre Dame du
Vivier is located about a km from Marche-les-Dames railway station. The
beginnings of this Abbey date back to the First Crusade War in 1096-99 CE. A
religious community was set up here in 1103 CE for the widows of the First
Crusade War! In the 13th C CE, the sisters of the abbey found a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Fish Pond here which is why the place is called Notre Dame
du Vivier. It existed as a functional abbey till 18th C, when French
Revolution happened. Then it changed several hands and was used for religious
purposes on & off. This is the only historic women's abbey that's still
intact!
The home to Clem de Castro Abbey beer, today this abbey has been converted
into a domain with animals, restaurants, picnic areas, hiking areas, and more.
The best part according to me, is the possibility of having a picnic served
under the trees surrounded by cows, goats, horses, emus, alpacas, and
chickens!
Where is Abbaye Notre Dame du Vivier (on Google Maps): Notre Dame du Vivier
How to reach Abbaye Notre Dame du Vivier? 1.2km (13 mins walk) from
Marche-les-Dames railway station
Abbaye Notre Dame du Vivier Tickets: €35 for lunch in the
meadow.
Abbaye Notre Dame du Vivier Timings: It is open on group guided tours. Otherwise, the best way to access the
domain is by having lunch here!
Book a picnic at the Notre Dame du Vivier official website.
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BEST HOTELS IN HUY - HUY HOTELS - WHERE TO STAY IN HUY?
For a more flexible budget or hostels or luxury hotels, it might be a good
idea to stay in Namur or Liege and commute to these places to visit by train.
There are a few hotels in Andenne and Huy and there are many options on Airbnb
at all these places, along the river, many, in fact, overlooking the river.
B&B PortaNova 21, Huy Review:
We stayed in this little charming B&B called PortaNova 21 in the heart of
Huy, steps away from the Grand Place. Quite amusingly, 21 is literally the
door number of the B&B!
Porta Nova 21 is a regular apartment with 2 floors. The B&B is on the 1st
floor and the owner Mr.Tony, lives on the 2nd floor. Though the staircase is
narrow, it has mobility solutions, meaning, there's a sliding stair lift
(chair glide) attached to it making it accessible for the elderly and
differently-abled as well.
The room is simple and elegant with all modern amenities. Mr.Tony had stocked
some basics like tea, coffee, bread, croissants, etc to make it easier to
begin with. Carrefour is located 3 mins walk from here and Delhaize is 4 mins
walk. We did a quick shopping for veggies, tortillas, etc. The room has a
fridge, and combi-oven (microwave-cum-OTG) apart from the stove top, which
made things easier. While there are quite a few restaurants, esp., at Grand
Place, I wasn't really sure of the availability of economical vegetarian food
here which was the main reason we chose a BnB with kitchen here.
There are towels, blankets, and TV available here. The plumbing in the
bathroom is excellent and modern and includes a bidet as well! Keep in mind
that the shower has a bit higher flooring than the rest of the bathroom which
doesn't help in containing the water - put down one of the towels to help
absorb the overflowing water and make sure to fold the shower curtain inwards.
Toiletries are available as well as a hairdryer and hot water. The bed
was of course super comfortable.
Where is B&B PortaNova 21 in Huy (on Google Maps): PortaNova 21
How to reach B&B PortaNova 21 in Huy? 1.5km (19 mins walk or 5 stops on
LeTEC Bus Route 126a or 102 to Huy Grand Place & 3 mins walk) from Huy
Railway Station
B&B PortaNova 21 Phone
number: +32 498 742 959
Reserve a room at B&B PortaNova 21 in Huy: via
Booking.com
B&B PortaNova 21 room rates: Begins at €136 for the entire apartment
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT HUY & TERRES-DE-MEUSE?
The best time to visit the region is on at least 2 days tour that includes a
Sunday and a public holiday from April to October! Why? The guided tour at
Tibetian Institute happens only on Sundays and the guided tour of Scladina
Cave happens only on Sundays & Public holidays and doesn't happen in
winter.
HUY ITINERARY (TERRES DE MEUSE ITINERARY)
There is so much to do in this region along the river Meuse from Namur to
Liege, that you can spend several days together here. I went on 2 different
day trips + a 3-day stay and still, I haven't seen some areas! Since the
region is well connected by SNCB-NMBS Belgian railways, it is also possible to
visit the region on multiple day trips. Click here for my article on the ways to find cheap train tickets in Belgium.
So below are the day-trip options. Of course, you can combine these day trips
with an overnight stay in the region to make a long weekend out of it!
- Day 1 - Abbaye Notre Dame du Vivier & Samson Fortress (Marche-les-Dames & Nameche railway stations).
- Day 2 - Grotte Scladina and EMA (Sclaigneaux & Andenne railway stations)
- Day 3 - Le Petit Parc & Huy Citadel (Huy railway stations and bus to Ben-Ahin)
- Day 4 - Historic town of Huy, Collegiate church, Institut Tibétain Yeunten Ling (and Mont Mosan too if you have kids)
- Day 5 - Prehistomuseum, Val Saint-Lambert Cristal Discovery, and Flemalle Fort (Leman railway station)
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We do love travelling in Europe by train. So many great stops when you take the train from Brussels. And so many things to see and do on the stops in Huy. We would love to wander and explore the Fortress with the panoramic view. We would make sure to visit both charming sections on either side of the Meuse River. And would look for those public art sculptures. How interesting to find a Tibetan Buddhist Temple here! We would definitely keep going on the train and plan a stop to see the Scalding Cave. I admire your energy at keep going to other stops and checking out the things to do. But you sure found some fun spots for your daughter to enjoy. Linda (LD Holland)
ReplyDeleteHuy clearly has so much to see and both here and it's also great to take the kids. The Tibetan Buddhist temple was really surprising to see here and to also learn about its history. The views from the fortress looks incredible and the sculpture of Scladina was interesting to see too. Your daughter had so much fun, you can see it on her face!
ReplyDeleteI never heard about these places. But via this article and your amazing pictures I can see how beautiful is the historic town of Huy. Looks amazing place for staying and live a slow travel life there. wish to vist thes places soon
ReplyDeleteI have been to Namur and Dinant, but I didn't explore more of the area. Huy looks like a wonderful place to see. It does remind me a little bit of the historical centre of Namur, with its fortress on the hill and the medieval looking houses. The Yeunten Ling Tibetian Institute is definitely a unique find, I wouldn't have expected to see something like it in Belgium. Shame they don't offer tours in English as well. I did take a tour in Czech once, by mistake, so I know they are quite difficult as you can see the temples, but can't really understand their history or purpose unless you read about them before.
ReplyDeleteI would love to do this tour. The fortress at Huy sounds exciting with its deep history. But I loved the outdoors with its sculptures of the children and the park with animals. I must say, it was a pleasant surprise to see a Tibetan temple there. It would be nice to see the Rose Glass window in the church. I guess, there would be a pass for the train, will check your post for cheap tickets.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic itinerary for Huy! Huy has several interesting places to visit. The Collégiale Notre-Dame et Saint-Domitien features distinctively designed interiors. I adore the vividly colorful and intricately crafted attributes of the Tibetan Buddhist Temple! Going into the Scladina/Scalyn cave also appears exciting. I can't wait to take part in this incredible trip soon!
ReplyDeleteLooks like there are many influences in this area of Belgium -- certainly a lot of French. But I was especially surprised to see a Buddhist Temple! I would really enjoy visiting all the beautiful churches and traveling by train makes it easy to get off and visit several places along the way.. Thanks for introducing Huy and this area to us!
ReplyDeleteHuy sounds truly amazing with a few surprises, too. I'm fascinated in all the foreign influences. Of course, there's a lot of French influence but a Tibetan Buddhist monastery? That's not expected! What a wonderful place to explore -- to see the historic buildings and medieval homes. Being able to visit by train is also a plus!
ReplyDeleteHuy and Andenne have lot of exciting things to do. The fortress of Huy is an iconic spot to visit with an interesting history linked to world war II. The rose window of the Collegiate church of our lady is beautiful and the statue of the kids playing with marbles.The statue of the Neanderthal girl at Space Museal D'Andenne Scladina is so intriguing and real. I'm sure Atyudarini enjoyed the Ben Ahin petit park marmosets and ponies.
ReplyDeleteThe Tibetian institute also looks a great place to visit.
Huy and Andenne have lot of exciting things to do. The fortress of Huy is an iconic spot to visit with an interesting history linked to world war II. The rose window of the Collegiate church of our lady is beautiful and the statue of the kids playing with marbles.The statue of the Neanderthal girl at Space Museal D'Andenne Scladina is so intriguing and real. I'm sure Atyudarini enjoyed the Ben Ahin petit park marmosets and ponies.
ReplyDeleteThe Tibetian institute also looks a great place to visit.