Stavelot: Abbey, Carnival and Journeys Through History

Stavelot combines an exceptional cultural heritage with numerous opportunities for active days out. Stavelot Abbey houses three museums, while signposted hiking, walking and cycling routes offer different ways to explore the area. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can shape their trip around museums, historic buildings, nature or longer excursions.

Abbey, Museums and Special Historical Testimonies

Stavelot Abbey can also be reached by public transport: take the train to Trois-Ponts and then bus 745, or take the train to Verviers and then bus 294. On site, the Historical Museum of the Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy presents the history of one of Belgium’s oldest monastic foundations. The three museums make Stavelot a destination where different interests can be combined with ease.

The Church of Saint-Sébastien is also part of the town’s historic atmosphere. It was built from 1750 onwards and consecrated on 13 May 1754. The church houses the Buste-reliquaire de saint Poppon. The Liège goldsmith Jean Goesin made it on commission for the canonisation of Abbot Poppon in 1624. The reliquary is considered one of the most important examples of 17th-century goldsmith’s work preserved in the region.

History can also be traced beyond the museum spaces. In the area of the vanished abbey church, visitors can walk from the transept to the choir and from the nave to the crypt. The Romanesque chapel dating from 1030, also known as the “Leper Colony Chapel”, is Stavelot’s oldest building. A protected architectural ensemble with a spacious square covered in Amblève pebbles and houses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries completes the historic setting.

Hiking, Cycling and Nature Experiences

The tourist offering includes 33 signposted walking and hiking trails with a total length of more than 250 kilometres. There are also four signposted routes of 9, 13, 23 and 40 kilometres, each with different elevation profiles. This selection makes it possible to adapt the day’s plans to the preferred route length and character of the tour without limiting yourself to just one form of transport.

The RAVeL greenways are intended for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. Cyclists can also choose from nine signposted cycling routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. The Site des Etangs is classified as a nature reserve and offers another connection with nature within the destination. Travelling with several generations, you can alternate cultural visits, shorter routes and more sporting days.

Carnival and Unusual Museum Destinations

A notable date in the annual calendar is the Laetare Carnival. It takes place every year on the Sunday of Mid-Lent, the third Sunday before Easter, and attracts tens of thousands of visitors. Stavelot has celebrated the Laetare Carnival with the Blancs Moussis, more or less continuously, on Laetare Sunday since 1820. The Guillaume Apollinaire Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to the poet. Those interested in technology and motorsport will find at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Museum photographic documents, educational panels, a large model of the circuit, as well as exceptional cars and motorcycles dating from the beginning of the last century to the present day.

Choose Accommodation to Match Your Travel Plans

When looking for accommodation in Stavelot, it is worth deciding first on your preferred travel rhythm. The abbey, church and museums can be the main focus; alternatively, you can plan your stay around hiking, cycling tours or the carnival. Guided city tours last around one and a half hours and are offered in French, Dutch, German and English. This allows you to divide your holiday days between independent exploration and a guided tour and choose a holiday apartment in Stavelot according to the planned focus of your trip.

For further orientation, you can also explore Francorchamps, Büllingen, Amay, Ouren, Engis, Oupeye, Amel and Thommen.

For the overarching travel overview: Liège.