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Durbuy

Sightseeing in Durbuy - what to see. Complete travel guide

Do you want to feel a part of the fairytale world? For this purpose, visit the Belgian city of Durbuy. This small town looks so fancy that it feels like Durbuy came from a picturesque illustration in a children’s book. There are no modern buildings here. A marvelous old castle and charming historical buildings create a truly unique atmosphere. The count and his family still live in the castle, so tourists cannot enter it. There is one square and several streets in Durbuy, but the town has many lovely dining establishments where visitors can relax, drink a cup of coffee, and eat local delicacies.

It would be a mistake to say that the history of Durbuy is rich in various events. Nevertheless, there are some interesting facts about this settlement that are worth mentioning. The history of the settlement started with building a castle in this area. Before the castle, there were no buildings in this area. The building process of the gorgeous construction took place in the 9th century. That being said, Durbuy was first mentioned in the documents in the 11th century. Three centuries later, the settlement officially became a town. This fact gave a boost to the development of this region. The new town got protective walls, a police station, a court, and, of course, the town administration’s building.

Amazingly, the medieval atmosphere hasn’t disappeared in Durbuy even in modern time. The town’s authorities, as well as its residents, do not hurry to change the look of their town and make it more modern or fitting current standards. Streets in Durbuy are quite narrow and are still paved with stones. Thanks to such individuality, a big number of tourists visit this town every year to see the fairytale come alive with their own eyes. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The old castle is still considered the main attraction of the town. As soon as you step onto the land of Durbuy, you will immediately notice this spectacular building surrounded by picturesque trees and wonderful forests. This medieval “giant” is the property of the Ursel family. The castle has belonged to the Counts of Ursel since the 18th century. The family settled in the castle soon after the restoration and has lived in it since that time. That is why it is not possible to enter the castle, but the building looks spectacular outside, and attending this landmark is a must for every tourist coming to Durbuy.

The town is Durbuy is very small; its population is less than five hundred people. However, the town is an interesting destination for every fan of sightseeing. Topiary Park is a true pride of Durbuy. Some local people even say that this is the largest topiary park in the world. The name of the park comes from a special decorative cutting of the trees that grow here. When taking a stroll on the parkways, you will surely notice how different the shape of trees and bushes is.

It is hard to tell for sure whether this is the biggest topiary park in the world or no. To be precise, there are more than two hundred and fifty different figures in this park. By the way, there are two trees or bushes that look the same. Absolutely each plant has its own shape. A resident of Durbuy, Albert Navez, is the founder of this park. Once, he was working in his garden and decided to cut the bush. This event happened in the 90s of the 20th century. The man liked the result of his work so much that he decided to give new shapes to all trees in the park. The official opening of the park took place in 1997.

Besides walking near the castle and admiring the green figures in Topiary Park, every guest of the town can find something interesting and entertaining. For example, tourists can try canoeing in the local river. More experienced and courageous guests can try rafting. Are you proud of your accuracy of aim? In this case, consider participating in the archery contests.

Do you like speed? If yes, we have good news for you. The town’s authorities offer carting races, and everyone is welcome to participate in them. Even if you have never tried karting before, you can try to ride this small racing vehicle. The last but not the least, there are many different caves in the area. That is why, if you like exploring new places, don’t forget to check the region’s natural landmarks. After that, end your day in a charming café or a restaurant where local chefs will pamper you with national delicacies and refreshing drinks.

There are no direct transport routes from the Belgian capital to Durbuy, so prepare to make a change. First, you need to take a train to Liege – these trains depart every thirty minutes. One hour later, you need to make a change and take a train to the Barvaux station. This part of the journey will last roughly fifty minutes. The distance to fairytale Durbuy from the station mentioned previously is approximately four kilometers. It is possible to walk this distance or take a taxi. If you choose to walk, the picturesque local nature will make your journey more pleasant.

This guide to iconic landmarks and sights of Durbuy is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Durbuy and surroundings

Reference information

Map of all castles

Survived castles around Durbuy
♥ Castle 'Deulin Castle' , 6.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Xhos Castle' , 15 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Château de Modave' , 15.4 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle' , 20.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Jemeppe Castle' , 21.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Map of all parks

National and city parks around Durbuy
♥ Regional Nature Park 'Ardennes' , 81.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Eifel' , 93.3 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'De Meinweg' , 99.6 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'De Groote Peel' , 110.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Grenspark de Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide' , 137.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Sights around Durbuy from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Aachen Cathedral

From the series “Top 15 Unesco Sites in Europe”

Check on the map: Aachen Cathedral on map

Distance from Durbuy center - 64.6 km.

A lot of amazing legends relate to the cathedral. According to one of them, the money for the construction was donated by the Devil himself. In exchange, he wanted to take the soul of the first creature who will come to the finished cathedral. Local residents managed to outwit the devil. When the cathedral was completed, they let a wolf come first. A number of outstanding historical events are associated with the place. Here, 35 kings and 14 queens of the German Empire were enthroned. Today, the Aachen Cathedral is as majestic as hundreds of years ago. Once inside, it’s impossible to look away from artistic colorful stained-glass windows, marble walls and ceilings, incredible painting, and other items of decor. … Read further

Bonnefanten Museum

From the series “Famous buildings of Postmodern architecture”

Check on the map: Bonnefanten Museum on map

Distance from Durbuy center - 57.1 km.

The spectacular museum building has become a popular landmark for the residents of Maastricht and its guests. The museum is located in a very picturesque area, on the banks of the Meuse River. A small park area is located in front of it. The museum building is located on the same site today, where the building of the Bonnefantin Monastery was located in the 18th century. This monastery was known for taking care of orphaned children. The monastery has fallen into disrepair over the years. Its building was destroyed. A beautiful monument of modern architecture is located in its place today. … Read further

Sightseeing in Durbuy - what to see. Complete travel guide

City tours, excursions and tickets in Durbuy and surroundings

Sights around Durbuy from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Aachen Cathedral

Bonnefanten Museum

Search touristic sites on the map of Durbuy

Sightseeing in regions nearby Durbuy