Sightseeing in Malmedy - what to see. Complete travel guide

Only a limited number of tourists have seen the miraculous historical and natural attractions of this settlement. Malmedy remains a calm and peaceful city, the atmosphere in which is nothing like the atmosphere in large tourist centers. This is a perfect destination for vacationers who like the countryside. To the service of travelers, there are cute and lovely small cottages available for booking. This small Belgian city offers wide prospects for getting oneself familiar with the history of the region, as well as with the culture and traditions of the indigenous people.

More than a thousand and five hundred years ago, Malmedy was a part of the independent Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy. This was one of the few independent regions of the Roman Empire. In the mid-7th century, a Benedictine monastery was established in the territory of the modern city. After the opening of the monastery, the settlement started attracting numerous pilgrims from the neighboring regions. For centuries, Malmedy remained an important religious center. An important event for the history of the settlement happened in 1815. After the defeat of Napoleon, the city was added to Prussia. Malmedy turned into a part of the Rhine region.

Only after the defeat of Prussia in World War I, Malmedy officially became a territory of Belgium. An interesting fact – the city got its current official territorial status relatively not long ago, in 1977. This is the year when two villages – Beverse and Bellevaux-Ligneuville – officially joined the city. This peculiarity certainly had an impact on the atmosphere of Malmedy, giving it a decent countryside vibe that charms numerous tourists nowadays. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Quirin is the main historical symbol of Malmedy. The beautiful church was built in 1777. Centuries ago, it was a part of a large abbey, but the majority of the monastery’s buildings haven’t survived until modern days. One of the remaining buildings of the former monastery is now a gymnasium. The old cathedral amazes visitors with its unique architecture. It would be a mistake to fail to mention multiple precious religious artifacts that the cathedral exhibits.

Fans of nature attractions should go to the countryside as the Coo Waterfall is situated nearby. With its height of 15 meters, this is the largest waterfall in Belgium. The power of the Coo Waterfall attracted engineers several decades ago, and so a large power plant was built in the area. The Coo Waterfall is an incredibly picturesque and magnificent place, so local guides organize frequent excursions to the area in warmer months. There is a high hill not far from the waterfall. Go to its top to reach a comfortable observation area with stunning views. A cable car is the fastest way to reach the top of the hill.

Perhaps, Musee du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps or the Spa-Francorchamps Racetrack Museum is the most unusual cultural establishment in the city. The museum got its name after the famous racetrack. The exhibition is dedicated to the history of car racing, and so models of retro racing cars are the most interesting exhibits here. A visit to this museum promises to be educative as guests can see not only retro vehicles but also modern racing cars.

Beer fans, Malmedy has prepared a pleasant surprise for you. Historic Bellevaux brewery is a must-visit venue for every fan of the foamy drink. One of the oldest and most famous in the region, this brewery has already turned into a local attraction. Bellevaux offers exciting excursions, during which tourists can learn more about the process of brewing beer. Naturally, sampling fine beer is an essential part of each excursion. A popular restaurant on the first floor of the brewery sells the most popular beer and regional cuisine dishes.

There are many beautiful parks and nature reserves in the vicinity of the city. In warmer months, tourists enjoy visiting and exploring them. For example, Ninglinspo is a large park in the suburban region of Aywaille. This park offers dozens of different hiking trails. Dense forests and mountains occupy a substantial part of the park. To make it more comfortable for visitors to explore the area, many routes have specially marked paths with protective fences. This is a fantastic place where visitors can see rare plants and watch birds. Unusual rock formations remain one of the major attractions of the park.

The simplest way to get to Malmedy is to arrive in Brussels first. The distance between these two cities is only 160 kilometers. A network of highways connects these two cities, and the roads are open all year round. There are also two trains to Malmedy, S2 and IC, which depart from the Brussels Central Station. It is important to mention that a train ride is significantly longer than a car one.