Ardennes In Detail
- 8
- £849
- Belgium Luxembourg
- Catch the Eurostar to the historic Flanders city of Lille
- Cross the border and meander across Belgium to Spa in the Ardennes
- Visit the pretty town of Clervaux in Luxembourg
- Stay in beautiful Dinant on the River Meuse before returning back to the UK
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade your hotels
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 7 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive hotel directions
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
Suggested Itinerary
Your journey starts at St Pancras, where you catch a Eurostar service for a direct train to Lille. On arrival in Lille, check in for an overnight stay at the Novotel Lille Gares (or similar), within easy walking distance of the station. Once you’ve settled in, you might like to stroll into town for a look around. Lille is an historic city, dubbed the ‘capital of Flanders’, with a pretty Old Town and some great museums and art galleries.
Travel today from French Flanders to Belgian Flanders and then on to the Ardennes. Your route takes you via the historic city of Kortrijk (pictured) where you might like to spend some time before continuing your journey into the Ardennes. There are no reservations needed today so you can decide on the day whether you’d like to stop off en route.
Once you arrive in Spa, make your way to the Radisson Blu Palace Spa (or similar) where you have a 2-night stay.
Alongside destinations like Bath and Vichy, Spa’s thermal waters have attracted tourists since Roman times. This has recently garnered the town a UNESCO World Heritage listing as one of the ‘great spa towns of Europe’. You can learn about the history of Spa at the Musée de la Ville d’Eau, stunningly situated in a former royal palace. Alternatively, try the waters for yourself at Les Thermes de Spa.
As well as taking the waters, you can also try your luck at the world’s oldest casino, founded in 1763 or hop on a train to the nearby Wallonian city of Liege.
Leave Spa and take the train across the Luxembourgish border to Clervaux. Here, check in for a 2-night stay at the Hotel Koener (or similar).
Situated in a narrow valley on both banks of the River Clerve, Clervaux is dominated by the Benedictine Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maur, built in 1910 and a still a working monastery. If you’re lucky enough to be here on the first Monday of the month, you can visit for a guided tour. But the lovely Chateau de Clervaux is open daily and features ‘The Family of Man’, a UNESCO World Heritage listed photography exhibition.
Your journey today takes you via Luxembourg City, where you might like to stop and leave your bags in lockers at the station so you can have a look around, perhaps staying for lunch here before catching an onward train to Dinant. Luxembourg is a stunningly situated European capital, built amid deep gorges cut by the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers.
Once you’re ready to move on, travel via Libramont to Dinant and check in for a 2-night stay at the Ibis Dinant Centre (or similar).
Dinant derives its name from the Celtic for ‘Celestial Gorge’ or ‘Sacred Valley’, which gives a clue as to its continuing beauty. Located on the River Meuse, the town is dominated by the spire of the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame. In the summer months, you can take a cable car from here to the majestic citadel at the top of the ‘rocher‘ – the prominent cliff-face which forms the town’s backdrop.
Among the museums in Dinant is the house of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone and the Leffe Museum, where you can find out more about the famous Belgian beer brand, which originated here.
Leave Dinant this morning and catch a train via Namur to Brussels. Though your train journeys to Brussels are flexible, you’ll need to make sure you’re at the Gare du Midi in plenty of time for your Eurostar check-in.
Leave Belgium behind and head under the English Channel on the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Lille
With its handy location between Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations, the Novotel Lille Gares also offers easy access to the centre of Lille. Bedrooms are soundproofed and decorated in a modern classic style with air-conditioning and Wi-Fi internet access as standard. The hotel also boasts an onsite restaurant, bar and a well-quipped gym.
Spa
The Radisson Blu Palace Hotel is conveniently situated next to Les Thermes de Spa, with direct access to these famous mineral springs via private cable car. Designer bedrooms feature free Wi-Fi access and all have views over the town or the hills of the Ardennes. There is also a restaurant and bar with a terrace as well as a fitness centre with panoramic views.
Clervaux
The family-run Hotel Koener offers spacious accommodation in the heart of picturesque Clervaux. Occupying an historic building, the hotel offers contemporary style bedrooms with TV, fridge and en suite bathroom. Guests can choose from one of three on-site restaurants and enjoy the facilities of the hotel’s wellness centre with indoor pool and hammam.
Dinant
Situated within walking distance of Dinant centre, along the banks of the River Meuse, the Ibis Dinant is a modern hotel in a stunning location. Bedrooms are classically furnished with air-conditioning, TV, en suite bathrooms and complimentary Wi-Fi. There is also a bar serving light meals with a terrace along the river where you can enjoy a drink in good weather.
