Legend has it that the village priest encouraged the townsfolk by offering them the occasional drink as they worked. True or not, between 1900 and 1903, the parishioners of Crupet built the Grotto of Saint Anthony of Padua themselves. The best way in is from the little square, where you’ll be greeted by statues of saints and plaques from the faithful, thanking Anthony for help with everything from shipwrecks and plague to affairs of the heart. An all-rounder among saints, indeed.
Climb the narrow staircase and you suddenly find yourself in the cemetery, face to face with a life-size statue of Anthony driving away the devil—the reason locals call it the Devil’s Grotto. Crupet also makes a fine base for exploring the surroundings: former watermills, a medieval moat house, and the Ronchinne estate.
Give Gros-Fays time to work on you. At first, the houses might seem plain, even sombre. But few places in the Ardennes have preserved their architecture as purely as this village. The slate comes from nearby, the houses are built to withstand the elements, and their beauty lies in their simplicity. No unnecessary ornament—just flowers and plants to brighten the world.
With patience, you’ll spot the former brewery, the washhouse, a watering place, and tall barns once used for drying tobacco. A few are still in use. Before leaving for the Semois valley below, stop at Café Lallemand, a village tavern that’s been, since the 19th century, what it still is today: a cosy living room where locals and visitors meet.
Wéris is best known for its dolmens (long stone graves) and menhirs (standing stones). Nowhere else in Belgium will you find so many in such close proximity. The best-preserved dolmen lies just a few hundred metres outside the village, between fields and woodland—a megalith reminiscent of a hunebed, with upright stones supporting a heavy capstone.
After your walk among these prehistoric monuments, wander into the village itself. Wéris has its own character: houses built in warmer sandstone, with timber framing softening the look. There’s also an information centre dedicated to the dolmens and menhirs.
Drive into Ragnies and you’ll notice it straight away: no narrow streets clustered around the church, but wide roads lined with fortified farmhouses. The walls are thick, the stonework solid, the gates large enough to swing open for carts and cattle. These farms once belonged to a powerful abbey; now they’ve found new uses.
One houses the Biercée Distillery, founded in 1946 by six friends and now a local institution. There’s a small museum and, of course, tastings of the famous Eau de Villée, an excellent lemon liqueur served in a frosted glass. Hollyhocks bloom along the streets, softening the village’s stern face.
The Molignée Valley steals the show with its bends, cliffs, little bridges, the Abbey of Maredsous, and the ruins of Château Fort de Montaigle. But make time for Sosoye, tucked like a bird’s nest between the hills. Its heart is a cluster of limestone houses, church, rectory, and barns.
For the best view, climb the Ranzinelle, the village’s steep-sided home hill. From the top, Sosoye lies at your feet, with a clear view of the old railway bridge. Trains no longer cross it, but cyclists and visitors do—on quirky railbikes. From the church square, a nine-kilometre trail takes you past the abbey. Lunch is bread and beer from the monks themselves.
More than thirty of Wallonia’s ‘most beautiful villages’ are gathered on one website. Finding them is easy—search by region or use the overview map. In most cases, you’ll find not only background information but also two walking routes: one through the village and one in the surrounding area. A perfect day out, guaranteed.
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