Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval
www.visitflanders.us
As the battleground for two world wars, Belgium is also big on remembrance. North, in Flanders’ fields, it is hard to remain unmoved by the mute testimony of the many cemeteries housing the fallen soldiers from the Great War. In the south, the Mardasson Memorial and Bastogne Historical Center commemorate those who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
A meditative moment could well take place at Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval, which offers an engaging tour of the ruins of the old abbey during the summer and fall, if not of the active Trappist community. But the fruits of their labors — cheese and beer — are always available at a nearby alfresco café, a restful site from which to view the abbey. Other than a weaker version they make for themselves, the monks brew only one Orval beer. Naturally, it’s one of the most distinctive in the world, and a fitting benediction for any Belgian beer exploration.
Belgium Checklist:
Sunset on the canals in the city of Bruges.
Flanders Tourist Office
(212) 584-2336
visitflanders.us
Where to stay:
Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace, Bruges,
kempinski.com/en
Hotel Heritage, Bruges,
www.hotel-heritage.com
Monasterium PoortAckere, Ghent,
monasterium.be
Hotel Julien, Antwerp,
hotel-julien.com
De Witte Lelie, Antwerp,
dewittelelie.be
Where to eat:
De Karmeliet, Bruges,
dekarmeliet.be
Belga Queen, Ghent,
belgaqueen.be
‘t Zilte Restaurant, Antwerp,
tzilte.be
Beer Degustation:
De Groote Witte Arend, Antwerp,
degrootewittearend.be
Den Dyver Restaurant, Bruges,
www.dijver.be
Belga Queen, Ghent (or Brussels),
belgaqueen.be
’t Hommelhof, Watou,
hommelhof.be
In Brussels, stay at Hotel Amigo
Courtesy Hotel Amigo
The Dominican,
carlton.nl/dominican
Hotel Amigo,
hotelamigo.com
Where to eat:
Comme Chez Soi,
commechezsoi.com
Beer Degustation:
Cambrinus,
cambrinus.eu
Where to stay Outside Brussels:
Château du Lac, Genval,
chateaudulac.warwickhotels.com
Dolce La Hulpe, La Hulpe,
dolce-la-hulpe-brussels-hotel.com
Wallonia
Wallonia Tourist Office
(212) 758-8130
www.visitbelgium.com
Fine dining at Den Dyver Restaurant
Château des Thermes, Chaudfontaine,
chateaudesthermes.be
Manoir de Lébioles, Spa,
manoirdelebioles.com
La Vigie Bed & Breakfast, Spa,
la-vigie.be
Le Sanglier des Ardennes, Durbuy,
sanglier-des-ardennes.be
La Grande Cure, Marcourt,
lagrandecure.be
Domaine du Château du Bois d’Arlon, Arlon,
chateau-arlon.com
L’Hostellerie du Peiffeschof, Arlon,
peiffeschor.be
Where to eat:
Restaurant l’Art de Vivre, Spa,
artdevivre.be
Cuisinémoi, Namur,
cuisinemoi.be
Lemonnier, Lavaux Sainte-Anne (near Namur),
lemonnier.be
L’Air du Temps, Noville-sur-Mehaigne (near Namur),
airdutemps.be
BEERS TO TRY (among many others):
Duvel, De Koninck, Kwak, DeuS, Rodenbach Grand Cru, Poperings Hommel Bier, Malheur Bière Brut, Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze, Boon Oude Geuze, Westmalle Tripel, Saison Dupont, Trappistes Rochefort 8, Orval
FESTIVALS TO ATTEND:
Christmas Beer Festival
December 17-18: A selection of 150 Belgian Christmas and winter beers in Essen,
www.kerstbierfestival.be
Zythos Bier Festival
April 28-29, 2012: The country’s largest beer festival, this year in Leuven,
www.zbf.be/UK/index.htm
Carnival in Binche
March 5-7, 2012: An annual elaborate celebration prior to Lent
Ommegang
July 3 and 5, 2012: A costumed festival, where the people of Belgium celebrate the country’s history,
www.ommegang.be