Discover Seraing: Crystal, Forests and Industrial History

Seraing combines an impressive industrial history with forests, marked trails and distinctive traces of crystal production. Anyone planning a trip to Seraing can choose between cultural discoveries, experiences in nature and active excursions. This makes it easy to tailor your search for a holiday apartment to your preferred daily itinerary.

Crystal, Châteaux and an Industrial Past

One cultural focal point is Val-Saint-Lambert. The Palais abbatial du Val-Saint-Lambert, also known as Château du Val, was built between 1762 and 1765. The Musée du Val Saint-Lambert is located in Seraing's abbey château. Its gallery displays 250 representative pieces from the Val Saint-Lambert crystalworks. Since its foundation in 1826, the manufactory has perfected the techniques of crystal blowing, cutting and engraving. The site also preserves the remains of the former Cistercian abbey.

The Château de Seraing also tells a long story: from the Middle Ages until the end of the Ancien Régime, it was one of the preferred residences of the prince-bishops of Liège. The former industrial facilities of Ougrée provide a different historical perspective, as they are considered reminders of Seraing's exceptional steelmaking past. These industrial wastelands include impressive street-art murals. Those wishing to discover the different sides of the town can therefore combine a museum visit, architecture and industrial memories.

Forest Trails for Different Daily Itineraries

For exercise in the great outdoors, there are twelve marked trails within the municipality. They are spread across the Bois de l’Abbaye, the Bois de la Marchandise and the Bois de la Vecquée. All are accessible on foot, and some are also suitable for cyclists and horse-riding excursions. The forests of Seraing contain ten marked walking trails ranging from 2.250 to 9.170 kilometres in length. The Bois de la Vecquée has three walking trails, each less than six kilometres long.

One specific option is the almost five-kilometre marked trail through the Bois de la Marchandise. It includes five fords, is considered moderately difficult and is accessible via the Chatqueue district; sturdy footwear is recommended. The 2.4-kilometre Parcours santé is also suitable for families and very sporty people. Scattered sports stations along the route enable a comprehensive workout. Centuries-old trees, rare plant species and majestic giant sequoias grow in the Bois de la Vecquée. In the Bois Saint-Jean, landscaped ponds create new habitats for increasingly diverse animal and plant life.

Historical Excursions with a Story of Their Own

The Fort de Boncelles was built in 1892 and was one of twelve forts constructed around Liège to repel enemy attacks. Another way to combine nature and the past is the virtual treasure hunt “Entre nature et vestiges industriels”. It takes you through the grounds of Val Saint-Lambert and the Bois de l’Abbaye. To take part, use the free Totemus app on a smartphone.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Seraing, you can therefore first determine your preferred travel rhythm: culture and crystal, shorter forest trails, a fitness trail or a longer hike with distinctive trail conditions. You can then base your choice of accommodation on these daily ideas, without having to combine the individual experiences into one shared route.

More Local Pages for Your Planning

The following local pages are also available for further trip planning: Chaudfontaine, Visé, Welkenrath, Sougné-Remouchamps, Blegny, Soumagne and Verviers.

To the overarching travel overview: Liège.