For a change from the dullness and noise of Brussels, what better way to recharge your batteries than in a cute little village not far from Brussels? For just a few dozen minutes’ drive, another world opens up to you: that of Belgium’s most charming villages. We’ve listed the 10 most beautiful villages in the country, all less than two hours from Brussels. It’s a real treat!
1. Torgny
A member of the Association des Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie, Torgny is a magnificent country village with a flourishing wine-growing past, whose current production (did you know?) represents one of the most important dry white wines in Belgium.
👁🗨 Must-See: Notre-Dame de Luxembourg hermitage chapel, old washhouse, vineyards, pink farmhouse.
🚘 How to get there: by car via the E411 (2h drive from Brussels)
➕ Discover: nearby, the Raymond Mayné Nature Reserve offers a tour of the Gaume’s discreet landscapes.
2. Bouillon
You could almost think of Bouillon as a small town (population +5,000). Yet this pretty Walloon commune, bordered by the Semois River and a magnificent fortified castle, has a real village atmosphere.
👁🗨 Must-sees: the Château de Bouillon (an ancient fortified castle dating back to the Middle Ages), the old bridge and the banks of the Semois river.
🚘 Getting there: by car via the E411 (1h50 journey from Brussels)
➕ Discover: take a detour to the sublime landscapes of the Ardennes Regional Nature Park, next door!
3. Sosoye
Located in the Condroz region, the village of Sosoye boasts a built heritage made up of old houses built in limestone, which give a beautiful homogeneity to the commune. The town is also one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Wallonia.
👁🗨 Must-sees: Notre-Dame de la Nativité church, presbytery, Saint-Roch chapel, Haute Bise villa (designed by Victor Horta)
🚘 Getting here: by car via the E411 (1h20 drive from Brussels)
➕ Discover: at the top of the Sosoye mountain, discover the Jardins d’Annevoie, Belgium’s only water gardens.
4. Vierves-sur-Viroin
Vierves-sur-Viroin is an architectural gem built around the majestic castle of the Barons of Hamal. It lies on the border of 3 Ardennes valleys.
👁🗨 Worth seeing: the castle of the Counts of Hamal, the Church of Saints-Rufin and Valère, the Calvaire chapel, the Notre-Dame de Grâce chapel.
🚘 Getting here: by car via the E19 (1h50 journey from Brussels)
➕ Discover: the Vierves carnival is one of the most famous in Belgium, dating back to the 12th century!
5. Crupet
Best recognized for its incredible keep (from the Carondelet castle), Crupet boasts a vast history: legend has it that the village was already inhabited in Gallo-Roman times!
👁🗨 Sights to see: the Carondelet keep and château (also known as Château de Crupet), Saint-Martin church, Saint-Antoine grotto, water mills, Saint-Roch chapel
🚘 Getting there: by car via the E411 (1h10 journey from Brussels)
➕ To discover: alas, only the exterior of the château can be visited (it’s still inhabited!).
6. Oostkerke
Oostkerke is often considered the most beautiful village in West Flanders. White houses, windmills, castle… it’s one of those picturesque villages we just love! Legend has it that it even had a port (Bruges-Ecluse canal), which has since been buried underground.
👁🗨 Must-sees: Oostkerke brick corn mill, Oostkerke Castle, St. Quintinuskerk church.
🚘 Getting there: by car via the E40 (1h30 drive from Brussels)
➕ Discover: the BBC TV series The White Queen was partly filmed at Oostkerke Castle!
7. Aubechies
What’s not to love about Aubechies and its pretty Romanesque church surrounded by a small pond? Part of the commune of Beloeil, Aubechies boasts a museum/archeosite focusing on ancestral crafts and prehistoric, Celtic and Gallo-Roman housing.
👁🗨 Must-sees: the Aubechies-Beloeil archaeosite and museum, the Romanesque church of Saint-Géry, the former château de Bruycker, the former Descamps mill, the former abbey of St-Ghislain.
🚘 Getting there: by car via the E429 (1h15 journey from Brussels)
➕ Discover: Aubechies is within easy reach of several varied sights: the Aulnoyes ponds, Beloeil castle, the Stambruges sandy sea
8. Oud-Rekem
In 2008, Oud-Rekem inherited the title of “most beautiful village in Flanders” according to “Toerisme Vlaanderen”: it deserves its place in this ranking! Dotted with historic buildings and located at the gateway to the Netherlands, it is crossed by the South Willems canal.
👁🗨 Must-sees: Aspremont-Lynden castle, church-museum, pharmacy museum, Senden distillery
🚘 How to get there: by car via the E314 (1h20 journey from Brussels)
➕ Discover: if you come to Oud-Rekem, take the opportunity to stop off in the Netherlands!
9. Clermont-sur-Berwinne
As you enter Clermont’s central square, Place de la Halle, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped out of time: old houses, old bricks, gray roofs, a stone fountain, a 17th-century farmhouse nearby… are we in a fairy tale?
👁🗨 Places to visit: Place de la Halle and St-Jacques-Le-Majeur church, Pirenne house, Château de Clermont farm.
🚘 Getting there: by car via the E40 (1h20 journey from Brussels)
➕ To discover: Clermont is undoubtedly one of the most typical and bucolic villages in the Pays de Herve region.
10. Chassepierre
Do you remember the Semois, the river that flows past the foot of Bouillon? Follow its course and you’ll soon be sailing towards Chassepierre, a beautiful village in the province of Luxembourg. Its name comes from the Latin(casa petrea: stone house). It certainly lives up to its name!
👁🗨 Must-sees: Saint-Martin church, 19th-century washhouse, rue Antoine farmhouse, Marci foundation buildings
🚘 How to get there: by car via the E411 (2h drive from Brussels)
➕ Discover: Chassepierre is renowned for its street arts festival, the “Fête des Artistes”, the 2nd Walloon summer festival after the Francofolies de Spa.
11. Redu
Located right in the middle of the Ardennes, Redu charms us with its natural surroundings and pretty little river. For a complete change of scenery, we love strolling between its beautiful sandstone houses.
👁🗨 What to see: its many bookshops and bouquineries, its sandstone houses with slate roofs, its abundant nature
🚘 Getting here: by car via the E411 (1h50 journey from Brussels)
➕ Discover: Known as the “book village”, Redu is renowned for its bookshops and bouquineries.