2 Best Sights in Hautes Fagnes, The Meuse and the Ardennes

Parts of the surrounding area can only be visited with a guide, particularly the peat bogs and the feeding areas of the capercaillies (large and very rare woodland grouse—the park’s symbol). At the park's nature and visitor center, you can book an individual guide, and you can rent bikes and e-bikes. Inside the center itself, the Fania exhibition is an immersive introduction to the local flora, fauna, and landscapes. Part of the visit takes you through a "sensory tunnel" in which you can listen to birdsong, peek into a fox's den, and walk barefoot over leaves and tree bark.

Reinhardstein, the loftiest and possibly the best-preserved medieval fortress in the country, dating originally from 1354, is reached by a mile-long hike through the Hautes Fagnes. It sits on a spur of rock overlooking the river Warche and has been in the hands of such illustrious families as the Metternichs, ancestors of Prince Metternich, the architect of the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The Hall of Knights and the Chapel are particular gems. Guided tours, lasting a little over an hour, depart hourly. They are mostly given in French, Dutch, or German, but guides are usually happy to offer some English explanation upon request.