A true jewel of the province of Liège, the Hoëgne River carves out one of Belgium’s most romantic valleys, where amber-colored waterfalls and enchanting trails go hand in hand. To understandthe unique spirit of this torrent, you must go back to its source, where the rock gives way to boundless space. As you leave the steep banks behind, the landscape shifts to reveal the Hautes Fagnes-Eifel Nature Park: a magical high plateau nestled between heaths and peat bogs. From the valley’s wild meanders to the sweeping panoramas of Botrange, embark on a complete escape to the far reaches of the country.
The Hoëgne Valley: a wild odyssey along the water
Here, you’ll findthe Ardennes at its most enchanting and authentic. The Hoëgne is undoubtedly the most iconic walking spot in the province of Liège. A tributary of the Vesdre, this river originates at an altitude of 660 m, before plunging down a dizzying descent. From the Centenaire footbridge onward, it transforms into a veritable torrent, carving out waterfalls and rapids that offer spectacular views.
What strikes you first is the unique color of the water: a reddish hue, reflecting the iron-rich soil of the Fagnes. But the valley is also an exceptional botanical sanctuary where mosses, ferns, and liverworts thrive in constant coolness. This wild landscape hides a royal history: in 1899, Queen Marie-Henriette personally inaugurated these trails, built in record time to offer a vacation spot for everyone, from the bourgeoisie to the working class.
The Hautes Fagnes-Eifel Nature Park: an escape to the roof of Belgium
The landscape then undergoes a radical transformation to reveal the Hautes Fagnes plateau. The true roof of Belgium, this area reaches its highest point at Signal de Botrange at an altitude of 694 meters, where the forest gives way to a wild expanse of 70,000 hectares. As the country’s largest nature reserve, the Park unveils a unique landscape of heaths and peat bogs. Betweenthe Fagne foothills to the north and the wooded hills of the Eifel to the south, the park offers a mosaic of magnificent landscapes.
To explore this vast landscape, the Maison du Parc-Botrange is an essential stop. It’s the perfect starting point to pick up hiking maps or venture onto the famous wooden walkways that wind above the marshes. Whether for a guided family hike or stargazing on a summer night, this protected wilderness promises a complete escape. From the rust-colored waterfalls of the Hoëgne to the endless horizons of the plateau, this outdoor odyssey offers an enchanting escape, just two hours from Brussels.
