Limerlé: Hiking, Old Farms and Church History

Limerlé combines a distinctive landscape with traces from different eras. The village lies in a broad valley formed by the gently sloping, opposing sides of two high plateaus. Limerlé is also situated on the watershed between the Rhine and Meuse river basins. The Bru and Dalle streams flow south towards the Moselle and then into the Rhine basin. The Natagora Bellain nature reserve is another of Limerlé’s attractions.

Hiking routes of varying lengths

Two hiking routes start in Limerlé, and their stated lengths make them easy to compare. The “Chaussée romaine” route is 12 km long. The “Aux Nutons” route is 5.9 km for the round trip. The figures are presented differently: for “Aux Nutons,” the stated distance explicitly covers the round trip. Check the route details before setting off.

The Gouvy–Bastogne RAVeL route also passes the former Limerlé railway station. This adds further route details for planning your trip alongside the two hiking routes. If you’d like to plan your days around different activities, you can consider the route distances and the path via the former station as separate points of reference.

Old farms and architectural history

Opposite the parish church of Saint-Étienne is the old quarter, with numerous substantial Ardennes farms and houses. Large slate roofs define the buildings, some of which are surrounded by impressive boundary walls. Elsewhere in Limerlé, very old houses built of natural stone or with limewashed façades have also survived the war. Their varied materials and architectural styles offer a glimpse into the village’s history.

Three distinctive houses have their own stories and dates: Maison Pondant dates from around 1730. Maison de Mathieu dates from 1770 and has a separate bakehouse. Maison Quoilin dates from 1817 and was formerly an inn. Together with the Ardennes farms, these details offer specific ways to appreciate the buildings not just as scenery, but also in terms of when they were built and how they were once used.

The parish church of Saint-Étienne has a baptismal font dating from 1437. Its exterior sacristy doorway dates from 1739. The slate carving is attributed to Tyrolean artists from Recht. The church thus brings together a precisely dated baptismal font and a doorway whose artistic attribution is carefully qualified.

Roman road and historical traces

An old Roman road crosses the Limerlé area from southwest to southeast. Along the route, you can see tumulus tombs, Roman graves and the remains of villas. For centuries, the road was also used by the so-called “Cologne processions” on their pilgrimages to Saint-Hubert. Archaeological traces and the historic pilgrimage tradition give the road two distinct historical connections.

Another cultural facet can be found on Rue Verte, where an old Ardennes farm was brought back to life by the “Périple en la demeure” collective. This example adds the story of a community-led revival of a farmhouse to the church art and old farms.

Choose the right focus for your stay

When looking for a holiday rental in Limerlé, you can start by thinking about how you’d like to spend your days. If hiking is your priority, the stated route distances offer a practical starting point for planning. If you’re more interested in architectural history, the farms, church and historic traces along the Roman road are the main highlights.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Cherain, Steinbach, Beho, Bovigny, Montleban.

Go to the broader travel overview: Gouvy.