The Meuse Valley, south of Brussels, is one of the best places to get a feel for Belgium’s rural heartland.
The Meuse River offers Belgium’s most scenic river trip opportunities, with dense forest countryside interspersed with hilltop craggy castle and fortress ruins, and little waterfront towns backed by limestone cliffs.
Head to either the towns of Dinant to plan your river trip. Both these small centers act as gateways to this region.
The Meuse Valley is also home to a host of hiking and cycling trails for travelers who want to add some activities into their holiday.
Its monuments may not be as famous as those in visitor favorite Bruges, but Mechelen’s old town area is a great place to capture a sense of medieval Belgium, with plenty of gabled architecture and fine old buildings still in situ.
The central Grote Markt is bordered by some exceptionally fine buildings including the Town Hall and Lakenhall, while the impressive Sint-Rombouts Cathedral with its tall clock tower rises up just behind.
Away from the main square, a stroll through the center will also reveal plenty of typical guild house architecture that history fans are sure to want to see.
The Meuse Valley is best experienced as a road trip, starting in Liège and traveling upstream to Namur, Huy, and Dinant. But because of the frequent and quick connections, traveling by train and bus is still an option.