Trip Report - Ardennes, Antwerp & Bruges
Apr 21st, 2023 | 12:05 PM
#1
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Joined: Jun 2022
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Trip Report - Ardennes, Antwerp & Bruges
Here are some highlights and impressions of our Belgium trip:
I liked the Ardennes a lot, because the countryside is beautiful and not overly touristy. My favorite part of the Ardennes and of all of Belgium (so far) is the area between Torgny and Bouillon. Torgny itself is one of the most quaint and pretty towns I've ever been too. Getting lost between those 2 towns was lovely too, and we ended up in France looking at farms, animals, even more quaint towns and scenic views of the French countryside. The Castle in Bouillon was definitely worth seeing, and we were just in time for a fantastic show there with falcons, vultures and an eagle!
In the Ardennes we also went to the Caves of Han, which is a spectacular experience if you like caves. My husband and son were wowed by it! It was cold, dark and damp, so I was looking forward to the end of the tour. We then went on the Wildlife Safari Park bus tour there, which was very relaxing and showcased a broad range of animals in their natural environments - I loved this!
Durbuy is a bit crowded but the reason why is clear, as it's so quaint and scenic!
We didn't get to Namur or Dinant, so maybe next time.
Time in Leuven was nice, as the architecture in the center of the city is very grand, and we enjoyed walking around the Botanical Garden (created in 1738 for the students of medicine in Leuven). It was so peaceful with beautiful botanical displays.
Antwerp has loads of character in more of a hustle and bustle atmosphere, and we enjoyed an interesting Jewish tour of parts of the city. Seeing the Central Train Station was worthwhile!
Bruges is beyond lovely of course, but the amount of tourists put a damper on it, for me personally. Overwhelming, but certainly so uniquely quaint and beautiful. We did a boat ride through the canals, and I purchased some Belgian and French lace in one of the shops. Belgian lace is apparently expensive, because not many people make it these days. I am glad we went to Bruges, and would love to go again, somehow when it's quieter and stay a few days, if I ever have that opportunity.
Driving with our rental car was easier than I thought it would be, but definitely a few challenges with different driving styles and rules. Someone in the Ardennes actually tried to chase our car, because I made a slight mistake. I also found people tailgating often, which I am not accustomed to. Parking was a touch easier than I thought it would be, but I have to admit, I received 2 tickets, and I don't know why. Reading signs wasn't easy! Traffic getting in and out of cities was only slow when we were traveling from Bruges to Antwerp at around 5:15pm. Other than that, traffic seemed to flow well, in comparison to what I am accustomed to in the New York area.
Overall I found people to be very friendly and helpful, and I will never forget my time in Belgium!
Thanks to those of you in this forum, who helped me with the planning process!
I liked the Ardennes a lot, because the countryside is beautiful and not overly touristy. My favorite part of the Ardennes and of all of Belgium (so far) is the area between Torgny and Bouillon. Torgny itself is one of the most quaint and pretty towns I've ever been too. Getting lost between those 2 towns was lovely too, and we ended up in France looking at farms, animals, even more quaint towns and scenic views of the French countryside. The Castle in Bouillon was definitely worth seeing, and we were just in time for a fantastic show there with falcons, vultures and an eagle!
In the Ardennes we also went to the Caves of Han, which is a spectacular experience if you like caves. My husband and son were wowed by it! It was cold, dark and damp, so I was looking forward to the end of the tour. We then went on the Wildlife Safari Park bus tour there, which was very relaxing and showcased a broad range of animals in their natural environments - I loved this!
Durbuy is a bit crowded but the reason why is clear, as it's so quaint and scenic!
We didn't get to Namur or Dinant, so maybe next time.
Time in Leuven was nice, as the architecture in the center of the city is very grand, and we enjoyed walking around the Botanical Garden (created in 1738 for the students of medicine in Leuven). It was so peaceful with beautiful botanical displays.
Antwerp has loads of character in more of a hustle and bustle atmosphere, and we enjoyed an interesting Jewish tour of parts of the city. Seeing the Central Train Station was worthwhile!
Bruges is beyond lovely of course, but the amount of tourists put a damper on it, for me personally. Overwhelming, but certainly so uniquely quaint and beautiful. We did a boat ride through the canals, and I purchased some Belgian and French lace in one of the shops. Belgian lace is apparently expensive, because not many people make it these days. I am glad we went to Bruges, and would love to go again, somehow when it's quieter and stay a few days, if I ever have that opportunity.
Driving with our rental car was easier than I thought it would be, but definitely a few challenges with different driving styles and rules. Someone in the Ardennes actually tried to chase our car, because I made a slight mistake. I also found people tailgating often, which I am not accustomed to. Parking was a touch easier than I thought it would be, but I have to admit, I received 2 tickets, and I don't know why. Reading signs wasn't easy! Traffic getting in and out of cities was only slow when we were traveling from Bruges to Antwerp at around 5:15pm. Other than that, traffic seemed to flow well, in comparison to what I am accustomed to in the New York area.
Overall I found people to be very friendly and helpful, and I will never forget my time in Belgium!
Thanks to those of you in this forum, who helped me with the planning process!
Last edited by JSamps; Apr 21st, 2023 at 12:29 PM.
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Apr 21st, 2023 | 03:08 PM
#6
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Joined: Jun 2022
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