Basse-Bodeux: Old Roads and Puddingstone

Basse-Bodeux is shaped by old transport routes, local building history and distinctive stories from its past. Some houses have walls made of local puddingstone; roads point to historic connections, and the village has both religious and judicial associations. Geological themes are also part of the picture. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can consider whether this local history and its different layers of time suit the stay you have planned.

Old Roads through Basse-Bodeux

The road running through Basse-Bodeux was an important old connection to Stavelot and served as a royal road during the Ancien Régime. Another road in Basse-Bodeux formed part of a pilgrimage route from Aix-la-Chapelle via Limbourg, Polleur and La Gleize to Basse-Bodeux. This brings two distinct historic transport connections to the fore: the connection to Stavelot via the royal road, and the pilgrimage route with its named stops.

These routes provide different contexts for the village’s history. One connection leads to Stavelot and is associated with the Ancien Régime; the other names a sequence of places along a pilgrimage route. Those interested in historic connections will find more than a single thread of history here, without conflating the two accounts into one route.

Village History, Architecture and Heritage

Some old houses in the village of Basse-Bodeux have walls made of local puddingstone. This also makes the stone relevant to the history of local construction: it is not only a geological feature, but is also found as a building material in parts of the historic building stock. This offers a different perspective on the village from the history of its roads.

Place du Carcan lies in the village centre. Another aspect of local history is the low justice court of Bodeux, which was the setting for witch trials; the last of these trials took place in 1616. The village’s history thus also reaches back into a distant legal past, distinct from the stories about transport routes.

The Croix du chanoine Hazé stands near the fountain and cattle trough in Basse-Bodeux. It is part of the religious heritage of Trois-Ponts. Alongside the references to routes and the justice system, it adds a distinct religious perspective to the themes that shape the village.

Stone and Different Layers of Time

At the edge of Basse-Bodeux, in the direction of Trois-Ponts, small caves can be found at the foot of the slope. The Poudingue de Malmedy is thought to have formed around 298 to 252 million years ago. This formation belongs to a completely different timescale from the history of the trials in 1616: geological periods sit alongside datable events from local history. The caves on the slope and the stone’s age are distinct clues to the destination’s landscape and geology.

When looking for a holiday rental, it can help to consider which themes interest you most: are you particularly interested in historic routes, village and legal history, or rock formations and their long history of formation? Family members with different interests can explore these themes separately. If this mix is what appeals to you about a stay, consider Basse-Bodeux as a destination when searching for a holiday rental.

Discover more destinations: Wanne.

See the broader travel overview: Trois-Ponts.