Our Niche: The Ardennes: Part 1

Last May 21 (Thursday) was a public holiday in The Netherlands in celebration of the Ascension Day and Friday was a company collective holiday. Planning that long weekend, we decided to do a long-drive to the Ardenne region in Belgium. What piqued our curiosity to visit the Ardennes was when our colleague mentioned that he and his wife have spent a leisurely weekend there and went inside the famous Caves of Han. We have been to Belgium a number of times and always, we visit the Flanders area. The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and old mountains formed on the Givetian (Devonian) Ardennes mountains, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France.

We did some research on the destination, planned the route and by early morning on Thursday, bringing just the basics: backpack, banana and bread, we were on our way for the 2.5-hour cross-country drive :)

"the world is not flat after all"
How do you know you have crossed the border from Holland? When you see hilly roads like this :)

just a few hundred kilometers more and you're in Luxembourg

...but our exit is here already

Where to Stay

Most of the hotels in Namur were booked during that long weekend, even the hostel where our colleague have stayed. Ahhh, serendepity found us again and led us to a gezellig family-owned Bed and Breakfast in Rochefort. It was in a quaint village of La Vaux Ste Anne, 50meters away from the Castle of La Vaux Ste Anne. (More on the B&B in the next post).

Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne

Just a stone's throw away from our B&B, this fortified castle which dates back to the 15th century, was built under the commission of Jean II de Berlo. It is made up of three corner towers and a cavernous keep; it represents the only example of an Ardenne Castle in an open countryside.

Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne

at the entrance of the castle, which used to be a draw bridge

Today the chateau hosts a hunting museum with an informative detailing of the "hunting history" during that period. Showcased inside the chateau are numerous antique bows, cross bows, air rifles, and of course hunting "trophies" like deer antlers, bison heads, among others.

Did you know that....

- Hunting, was considered a "marques de noblesse", an emblematic privilege that distinguished the noble from the common folks. Simply put, only the nobles had the right to hunt. (And I think a right abused one time too many, if you review your history...)

a not so comfy chair

the Lord's favorite trophy, the head of a Bison

"Pitchfork for the Privileged"
Surely the noble class enjoyed numerous perks. This pitchfork is used to beat the water to stop frogs from croaking, when "The Lord" is asleep or when he just wants a quiet moment :) RIDICULOUS!