Discover Limbourg: Culture, Trails and Landscapes

Limbourg combines an exceptional historic townscape with hiking trails through fields and forests. Located between Liège and Aachen, in the heart of the Euregio, the town offers an exciting starting point for travellers who want to combine culture and landscape. When looking for a holiday apartment in Limbourg, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus your stay on the town’s medieval character, active trails or a variety of discoveries.

A historic centre with a distinctive character

The architectural ensemble of the village of Limbourg is listed as exceptional immovable heritage of Wallonia and bears the “Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie” label. The Upper Town is an open-air museum that offers insights into the town’s medieval past. This character is particularly evident around Place Saint-Georges: the square is covered with stones from the Vesdre.

The Saint-Georges Church also tells the story of the town’s long development. It was built in the 12th century as a simple chapel with a flat-ended choir, remodelled and extended in the 14th century, and altered again in the 15th century. The former town hall of Limbourg, known as “Arvô”, was built between 1681 and 1687. Today, since 1991, the Arvô exhibition space has presented new insights into modern and surprising local and regional art every summer. A walk therefore allows you to combine historical architectural heritage with contemporary culture.

Hiking between the fortifications and Gileppe

One specific way to experience the town and its landscape is the 13 km “Boucle du dragon et du lion” hike. It begins either in Limbourg or at Gileppe, near the Brasserie Au Lion, and passes through fields and forests between Limbourg’s medieval fortifications and the Gileppe Dam. The choice of starting point can therefore be factored into your day’s planning.

Along the way, the loop passes through the Coingsoux Arboretum. Those who are interested in trails with unusual crossings can also include the Chemin des échaliers. There, you cross meadows using various types of crossings, including chicanes, ladders, passageways, stepping stones, upright stones and turnstiles. The path along the fortification walls adds views of the Vesdre Valley and the Herve Plateau to the hiking experience.

Forest, water and landscape details

For quieter walks, the Hèvremont Forest is a good choice, offering an area for discovering local flora and fauna. From its source to its confluence with the Gileppe, the Borchêne forest stream forms the boundary between the municipalities of Limbourg and Jalhay. In the Bovegnée Valley, a stone aqueduct recalls the construction of the Gileppe Dam and the development of the domestic water supply. Alongside its trails, such details give the landscape a technical and historical dimension.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

If you would like to start your morning in the historic centre and follow it later with a hike or walk, accommodation in Limbourg is a suitable direction for your search. A holiday apartment is a useful term for your further planning, without implying any specific facilities or a particular location. For your journey, you can take into account the location between Liège and Aachen: Limbourg is easily accessible from Belgium’s major cities as well as from Germany and the Netherlands.

Families and travel groups with different interests can organise their stay flexibly: one part of the trip can be devoted to the open-air museum and historic buildings, and another to the trails, viewpoints and landscapes. This makes Limbourg appealing both for culture-focused days and for active exploration.

More destinations

For additional destinations to include in your travel plans, see Bilstain, Malmedy, Aubel, Hannut, Oreye, Donceel, Stavelot and Ferrières.

For the higher-level travel overview: Liège.