What To See Along The River Ourthe

At Comblain-au-Pont, where the Ourthe absorbs its side river, the Amblève, and the Ardennes truly begin, the forces of nature have conspired to create the Grotte de l’Abîme, or the ‘Cave of the Abyss.’ The underground halls were first discovered in 1900 when a dog fell into the original passage, a chasm 22 meters deep. Today, it’s possible for visitors to enter more comfortably via a horizontal tunnel to visit the limestone caves formed by rainwater and to say hi to the large families of bats who come to take their naps there. If you venture a little farther, you’ll also find the famed caves of Remouchamps.

In the heart of the Palogne recreational domain lie the remains of the old Logne stronghold. From the 9th century onwards, dutiful monks expanded the fortress into an impressive construction until the premises fell into the hands of the ‘de la Marck’ clan – also known as les Sangliers des Ardennes (‘the boars of the Ardennes’). The gang family used their control of the chateau to increase their power over the area until Charles V put an end to their rebellious ways by bombing the place in 1521. Excavations at the site have been taking place for over a century, and the nearby museum now sketches an impressive image of daily medieval life in the castle with the help of hundreds of discovered objects. The chateau ruins are part of a larger domain where falcons fly and treasure hunts are a daily activity.

Perhaps the most picturesque village on the banks of the Ourthe and, therefore, quite touristy, is Durbuy. The vintage town with its cobbled alleyways has been calling itself La plus petite ville du monde (‘the smallest city in the world’) ever since 1331 when it was baptized a city by the Count of Luxembourg even though crossing it takes no more than a five-minute walk. Adding to the charm are the massive corn labyrinth that strikes down during summer, the Saint-Amour jam factory that stirs its confitures by hand, and the off-the-wall Topiary Park with shrubs in the form of elephants, crocodiles, and even Pamela Anderson.

To each his own at La-Roche-en-Ardenne, the small but culturally blooming city the Ourthe meanders right through. While history buffs have the castle ruins and a museum centered around WWII battles in the Ardennes to look forward to, foodies can pay delectable visits to the artisanal chocolate factory and the Ardennes Ham Museum. Add to that the pottery museum and pottery workshop, the wild game park, and the ghost that trots around on the castle’s walls during summer light shows, and you’ve got one entertaining Ourthe city.