Discover Ensival: Landscape, History and Walking Route

Ensival combines landscape, local history and distinctive individual monuments in a special way. Those wishing to combine a trip with cultural discoveries and walks will find various points of interest here, including Parc Godin, historic houses and the Ensival Historical Museum. For families and other travellers, it is worth considering before choosing a holiday apartment whether the focus should be more on nature, history or a mixture of both.

Landscape around Parc Godin

Parc Godin lies behind the former Godin estate at En Mi-Ville 23–31. It includes a secluded meadow planted with trees. A small, steep slope protects the park to the north. Several notable tree species grow there, including an American oak, a silver maple, two walnut trees and an unusual variety of ash trees.

Parc Godin was classified as a protected landscape area on 30 May 2002. The valleys of the Préry and its tributary Piedvache are also considered a notable site and may be described as a landscape area of interest. Thus, in addition to its built heritage, Ensival offers a natural side that can be taken into account when planning a trip.

Historical traces in Ensival

After Ensival obtained its own aldermen in the 17th century, the town developed under the influence of Verviers and turned towards cloth production. Today, this history is reflected, among other things, in individual buildings and squares. The house at 37 Grand’Place is a small late-18th-century building in the Louis XV style. On the ground floor, it has a finely carved carriage gate extending across the entire width, typical of its period. The main façade and roof were listed as a monument on 21 September 1982.

The Château Dorman, also known as Lu Tchéstê Dorman and Lu Tchéstê del Folèye, is another distinctive building in the town. It is a spacious, monumental house from the 1870s, named after its first owner. The Maison Gohy at 3 rue du Canal is another protected house, designed in the Louis XV style.

Another historical detail awaits you at Place de la Saunerie. The square is associated with the production of salt, which was used in the region’s dye works. Beneath the neighbouring buildings are cellars paved with bluestone, where a salt refinery was established. Since 1998, the Ensival Historical Museum has focused on the occupation and liberation of the Grand Verviers region during the Second World War.

Walking route and further discoveries

Ensival has the walking route “Ensival: promenade du champ des oiseaux (PCDN)”. The “Promenade du Champ des Oiseaux” passes through the Préry Valley, along the La Haute Folie path and past the Maison Gohy. Those who enjoy walking can make this route a focus of their trip, combining landscape and local history without limiting their stay exclusively to sights.

The Croix du Thier des Pierres Blanches is also part of the town’s visible history. The cross is 2.75 metres high and was erected by Louis Zurstrassen in 1929 to replace a simple wooden cross. Such specific details provide additional points of reference during a walk through Ensival and make the town’s different historical layers tangible.

The right holiday apartment for your stay

When searching for a holiday apartment in Ensival, you can use your planned activities as a starting point. If you are particularly interested in local history, the house at 37 Grand’Place, Château Dorman, Maison Gohy, Place de la Saunerie and the museum take centre stage. For nature-focused days, Parc Godin, the Préry Valley, the Piedvache Valley and the walking route offer suitable thematic highlights. This allows you to choose accommodation in Ensival according to your preferred travel pace: with more time for historical discoveries, walks or a balanced combination of both.

For the main travel overview: Verviers.