Discover Tailles: Landscapes, History and Cycling Routes

Tailles is located on the Plateau des Tailles, which overlooks the Eastern Ourthe and the Salm. Les Tailles is considered Belgium’s highest village and lies at an altitude of around 600 metres. The landscape is characterised by relatively flat, gently domed terrain, only slightly cut into by watercourses. This gives the area a distinctive landscape character that clearly differs from the deeply rugged landscapes of the Ardennes.

Landscape and Natural Environment

An important reference point for orientation is the Parc naturel des deux Ourthes. The lower part of the Grand Passage belongs to the Plateau des Tailles state nature reserve. Anyone wishing to place nature and landscapes at the heart of their travel plans will find a concrete reason here to explore the plateau and its special features in greater detail. On the Plateau des Tailles, removing plants, flowers and fruit is prohibited; blueberries are exempt from this rule. This is one of the practical points to bear in mind when spending time in the countryside.

The appearance of the village also contributes to Tailles’ distinctive character. Buildings in Les Tailles generally feature masonry made of slate and arkose, with some wooden cladding on the façades, as well as roofs made of natural or artificial slate. Window frames made of brick or bluestone complete this appearance. Anyone interested in regional architectural styles can look out for these materials and details while walking around, without having to reduce the village to a single attraction.

Church, Pilgrimage and Historic Traces

The history of Saint-Gilles in Tailles goes back a long way. When Les Tailles became an independent parish, a church dedicated to Saint Gilles was built there in 1611–1612. The Saint-Gilles church in Les Tailles was rebuilt in 1785. Its history also makes the village interesting for travellers who wish to combine cultural and historical themes with the landscape during their stay. A pilgrimage to Saint-Gilles was held in Les Tailles for several decades, either to pray for healing or to have small children blessed. This traditional religious practice forms part of the local memory.

Another historic trace is the Moulin des Tailles. It was one of four compulsory mills listed in an inventory from 1682. Together with the church, the pilgrimage and the regionally characteristic buildings, this creates a picture in which the landscape and the history of the village stand closely side by side. For your travel planning, this may mean allowing time not only for experiences in nature but also for the historic atmosphere of the village.

Cycling Routes and Suitable Travel Planning

Tailles is also included in several documented cycling offers. The Houffalize mountain-bike map covers six routes ranging from 18 to 36 km in length. Tailles is also one of the villages included in the “A vélo au Pays d’Houffalize – La Roche-en-Ardenne” cycling routes. The 55 km loop “Du plateau des Tailles au canal de Bernistap” begins with the section from Houffalize to Les Tailles. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, the type of trip you want is therefore the first deciding factor: an interest in nature and culture calls for different daily planning than a stay focused on longer cycling routes.

When searching for accommodation in Tailles, you can use these different priorities as a guide. Consider which experiences should be at the centre of your trip and which location best fits your plans. This keeps your choice of holiday apartment connected to what you actually want to discover in Tailles: the plateau, the natural environment, historic landmarks or the designated cycling routes.

Other Places for Orientation

For comparing other village pages, you can also visit Mabompré, Cèturu, Mont, Buret, Nadrin, Tavigny, Wibrin and Achouffe.

To the main travel overview: Houffalize.