Discover Sevry: Tower, village church and countryside

Sevry appeals to travellers interested in village history who also want to spend time in the rural countryside. The Tour de Sevry, the parish church of Saint-Étienne and an old livestock watering trough represent different sides of the village. Walking and cycling routes add meadows and panoramic views of the Famenne Depression to the mix. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus more on architecture and historical details or on active days on foot and by bike.

Tower, church and rural architectural history

The Tour de Sevry was the seat of a lordship of Liège; its complex was originally a dependency of the Château de Sevry. The tower is square, has three levels and dates from the late 15th or early 16th century. The seat of the lordship, its historical relationship with the Château and the tower’s design offer different ways to explore the village’s history: the focus is both on the complex’s function and on the tower’s form.

The rest of the village also offers tangible examples of Sevry’s architectural history. At house number 34 stands a timber-framed long farmhouse dating from the early 19th century. The parish church of Saint-Étienne is neoclassical and contains the tombstone of Étienne-Nicolas de Bériot, dated 1727. The village thus brings together a type of rural building and a church with a precisely dated funerary monument. Sevry consists mainly of 19th-century buildings, some of which are coated with lime.

The old livestock watering trough broadens the perspective from seigneurial and religious buildings to the history of everyday rural life. It dates from the 19th century, is round and was made from large bluestone slabs. In the past, a small public fountain supplied the trough; this fountain was known as a Borne-fontaine. The trough’s shape and material give the village a different accent from its tower, church and farmhouse, while the former water source tells us about how it was used at the time.

Walking and cycling around Sevry

The Javingue–Sevry walking route starts at the church in Sevry. Check trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.

On a route near Sevry, the trail passes meadows with donkeys, horses, cattle and sheep. There are also panoramic views across the typical landscapes of the Famenne Depression. The route therefore offers two different points of interest for planning: the pastures along the way and the expansive views across the depression’s landscape.

A bilingual Geopark brochure from 2020 describes a Famenne-Ardenne cycling loop from Beauraing via Sevry and Winenne and back to Beauraing. Its stated length is 21.9 kilometres. As route details may change, check the route before setting off.

The two route themes offer different points of reference: the walking route has a stated starting point at the church, and its landscape is characterised by pastures and panoramic views. The cycling route is described as a loop with a stated length and a sequence of places. This can help you decide whether you would rather plan an outing around the scenery along the way or a clearly defined cycling loop.

Holiday homes and travel planning

When choosing accommodation in Sevry, you can first consider whether village history, walking or cycling will be the main focus of your stay. Two holiday homes are offered in the château courtyard in Sevry, for a maximum of six and twelve people respectively. Check current availability before booking.

There is also a practical point for travellers with children: Sevry has an outdoor playground for children. As these facilities may change, check the current status before travelling.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Vonêche, Dion, Martouzin, Javingue, Felenne, Winenne.

Back to the main travel overview: Beauraing.