Summary

Its forests, its landscapes and its gastronomy

The Ardennes, a land of tourism, is home to magnificent forests, splendid landscapes, large, resplendent and lively valleys, numerous historic sites, as well as very picturesque towns and villages, spread across three countries: France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

But we can also talk about gastronomy: Beers, Cacasse à cul nu, Salad, Liège waffles, chocolates, without forgetting, of course, many charcuterie specialties.

Many local producers, many local specialties

During your stay in the Ardennes, buy your meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables and all other good local products via the short circuits set up. The direct relationship between you and the producers will be a way to introduce you to the diversity of the terroir and above all to come into contact with the Ardennes who work to promote local gastronomy.
Local Ardennes producers – Official website of the Ardennes Tourist Development Agency)

Geography in a little more detail

the Ardennes corresponds to the rugged forest territory limited to the south by Lorraine (including Gutland, or Bon Pays, in Luxembourg and Gaume in Belgium) and Champagne, to the west and north by the furrow traced by the Sambre and the Meuse, by Famenne and Hesbaye, to the east by the volcanic region of the Eifel which runs along the Belgian and Luxembourg borders roughly between Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) and Wasserbillig.

The largest part is found in Belgium, exclusively in the Walloon Region, where it extends over most of the provinces of Luxembourg and Liège, a small half of the province of Namur and a small part of the province of Hainaut. In France it covers the territory of the department of Ardennes and part of the department of Meuse. It also covers the northern part of Luxembourg called “Oesling”. The Ardennes peaks at 694 meters, at the Botrange signal in the Hautes-Fagnes of the province of Liège. The forest is made up of scraps of the old charcoal forest. The Ardennes no longer constitute a single and compact wooded massif. However, the forest area is currently expanding slightly.
Ardennes – WIkipedia

One river and many rivers

The Ardennes is a place where many rivers have their source, such as the Lesse, the Ourthe, the Amblève, the Sûre, etc.

The region is crossed by only one major river, the Meuse, at its western end. However, other important rivers demarcate its borders with the Eifel region such as the Moselle and the Rhine.
Ardennes – Wikipedia

Numerous 100% nature activities

Inspirantes, sacrées, merveilleuses, les forêts ardennaises gardent le souvenir des récits et des légendes liés aux fées, aux lutins, au diable, aux loups… Ce n’est pas moins de huit massifs forestiers qui invitent à la randonnée.

By kayak, on horseback, on foot, by bike, along the Semois valley, in parks or on a greenway, enjoy a 100% natural adventure, even beyond borders!

History and heritage

Through its landscapes, its flesh and its traditions, the Ardennes keeps the traces of an eventful history. Among the very present cultures, we can cite the Celtic culture, still well represented.

Ardennes conviviality

It's not a legend, our identity is a real state of mind: a sharing of values such as courage, resistance and attachment to one's roots, as well as a taste for exchange and conviviality.

Many events all year round

Music, theater, puppets, there is something for everyone.

Lovers of rock and current music, we can cite Le Cabaret Vert which takes place every last weekend in August at Square Bayard, near La Macérien.

Puppet fans, the association Les Petits Comédiens de Chiffons, invites you every two years for the World Puppet Theater Festival, and alternately with the festival, for the Tend’m (formerly the J-365).

How to come and stay?

We invite you to consult the Tourism in Ardennes website, section “Prepare your stay“, you will find all the useful information there.

Whether it is a hotel, a campsite, a gîte, a caravanning area or even a guest house, you will inevitably find the accommodation that suits you during your stay in the Ardennes.

How to get to the Ardennes?

By car/Carpooling:

From Paris: take the A4 towards Reims, then the A34, direction Charleville-Mézières.
From TRIER or SAARBRUCK: direction Luxembourg on E25 and E411 and in Libramont, direction Sedan and Charleville-Mézières.
From Lille: via Tournai, Mons or via Charleroi and Philippeville towards Rocroi and Charleville-Mézières (N5/A304/E420).
From COLOGNE: direction Aix-la-Chapelle, Liège, then take E25 direction Luxembourg, then E411 direction Namur and Libramont, direction Sedan and Charleville-Mézières.
From BRUSSELS and AMSTERDAM: direction Charleroi, Philippeville (N5/E420), Rocroi and Charleville-Mézières (A304).
From LONDON, via CALAIS: A26 to Reims, then A34 direction Charleville-Mézières.

By Bus:

Flixbus/Blababus to Paris, then Blablabus from Paris Bercy-Seine direction Charleville-Mézières

By Train:

By TGV Est, Paris – Charleville-Mézières (direct or via Reims/Champagne TGV in TER).
From Lille-Flandres station, 4 direct trains to Charleville-Mézières or by TGV/OUIGO via Paris (Gare du Nord then follow the route from Paris Est.
TGV or OUIGO either from Marseille via Marseille Saint-Charles station or from Lyon via Lyon Perrache Part-Dieu or Saint Exupéry station to Paris or Marne-la-Vallée depending on the route then TGV from Paris Est.
From Brussels, Cologne, Aachen, Liège or Amsterdam station, take the Thalys towards Paris Nord then take the TGV Est Vers Charleville-Mézières directly or to Reims or Champagne-Ardenne TGV to take a TER Fluo Grand Est..
By the TER FLUO Grand Est, from Reims or Metz/Longwy.
Dans les Ardennes, le TER FLUO dessert les communes suivantes : Amagne – Lucquy, Anchamps, Aubrives, Bogny-sur-Meuse, Carignan, Charleville-Mézières, Deville, Donchery, Fépin, Fumay, Givet, Gare d’Haybes, Joigny-sur-Meuse, Laifour, Liart, Lumes, Mohon, Monthermé, Nouvion-sur-Meuse, Nouzonville, Poix-Terron, Rethel, Revin, Sedan, Vireux-Molhain et Vrigne-Meuse.

To reserve your TGV tickets, go to the website SNCF Connect.
For OUIGO: OUIGO.com.
For Eurostar/Thalys tickets, go to the website Eurostar*.

*: Thalys has become Eurostar since October 1, 2023.

By Boat:
From the north using the Meuse
From the south via the Marne canal then taking the Ardennes canal.

By bike:
In France, from Haute-Marne (Langres), the Meuse (Verdun),
in Belgium from Liège via Namur, or in Holland, from Rotterdam via Maastricht, you just have to follow the EuroVelo 19 – The Meuse by bike and then reach the Ardennes via the Trans-Ardennes greenway.
If you have arrived in Givet or Sedan, you can also take the train.
Spaces are provided to transport your bike free of charge on TER trains.

AAirports and aerodrome nearby:

• Paris (Charles de Gaulle)
• Paris-Vatry
• Luxembourg (Findel)
• Brussels (Zaventem)
• Charleroi (Brussels-South)
Ardennes Aerodrome – Etienne Riché

To discuss and exchange about the Ardennes, do not hesitate to join us on our Discord.

Useful links:

Tourism Development Agency