Discover Amay: Culture, History and Trails

Amay combines impressive religious buildings, craft history and nature experiences with a variety of options for planning your day. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Amay can focus on historical discoveries, a signposted circular hike or the landscape around La Gravière d’Amay. The contrast between the carefully designed buildings and the natural surroundings is particularly interesting.

Abbaye de la Paix-Dieu and the History of Milling

The Abbaye de la Paix-Dieu lies in a valley basin sheltered by forests, meadows and fields. Its monumental gateway was built in 1730 during the tenure of Abbess Lambertine de Wansoulle, using bricks and limestone. The complex thus combines striking architecture with a clearly identifiable historical context.

The present-day mill building of the Abbaye de la Paix-Dieu is also a worthwhile subject for visitors interested in culture: it was built in 1665, and the Moulin de l’abbaye de la Paix-Dieu still preserves the mechanics of milling technology from the same period. Today, the ground floor houses the Maison du Tourisme Hesbaye-Meuse. The abbey also houses the Centre des métiers du Patrimoine and the Secrétariat des Journées du Patrimoine. The Classes d’éveil au patrimoine et à ses métiers at the Centre des métiers du patrimoine include practical workshops in which participants can try out a craft technique.

Churches, Art and Merovingian History

The Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Amay features stucco decorations in its vaults and apse. The Collégiale Saint-Georges et Sainte-Ode houses the Merovingian sarcophagus of Sancta Chrodoara and the shrine of Sainte-Ode from the 13th century. Amay therefore offers various ways to explore religious art and history, from the design of a church interior to outstanding individual objects.

At the Musée communal d’Archéologie et d’Art religieux, the Mosa Nostra exhibition presents the history of the Merovingian Meuse region from Verdun to Maastricht. Self-guided visits are available from the first weekend in April to the second weekend in September or by reservation. In addition, the abbey church of the Abbaye de Flône contains Romanesque baptismal fonts from the 12th century, as well as an organ case and organs classified as significant Walloon heritage. The Château de Jehay is a rare example of Gothic-Renaissance architecture, with chequerboard façades made of limestone and sandstone rubble.

Circular Hikes and La Gravière d’Amay

For an active day out, the Promenade de Sainte-Ode et Gravière is an appealing option. The moderately difficult circular hike is 9.6 kilometres long, starts at the Collégiale d’Amay and is marked with a red rectangle. Those looking for a shorter option can choose the Tour de la gravière d’Amay, an approximately 3-kilometre route starting from Rue de Ponthière. This route is not marked; the differing details help you assess the desired tour in advance when planning your day.

La Gravière d’Amay is accessible through gates. It provides a habitat for hundreds of nesting or migrating birds as well as increasingly rare vegetation communities. The landscape therefore adds an independent natural dimension to the historical impressions. The Tour des Waroux, also known as the Tour romane or Donjon d’Amay, takes the thematic selection back to history: the keep was built around the 12th century.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for accommodation in Amay, you can first decide whether culture, crafts, nature or physical activity should be the main focus. For culture-oriented days, the abbey, mill, churches and museum offer a range of different topics. Those who prefer to plan a hike can choose between the 9.6-kilometre marked circular hike and the approximately 3-kilometre unmarked option.

If you would like to extend your travel planning beyond Amay, you can also include Oreye, Baelen, Huy, Raeren, Burdinne, Ferrières, Modave and Comblain-Au-Pont in your further research.

For the overarching travel overview: Liège.