TOURING WALLONIA
Wallonia covers more than 16,800 square kilometres – and that’s a lot. But don’t despair. We’ve dropped behind the thin-rimmed wheel of a 1970 MGB Roadster to explore the region and bring you our pick of the best routes to make your classic car touring holiday an unforgettable experience.
Every Wallonian adventure is saturated with history, filled with lush forests and rich in drivers’ roads but each journey carries its own distinct flavour, too. If Waterloo beckons, try Route 6 – the battlefield sits near two other unmissable sights. Fancy something less obvious? Route 3 whisks drivers away from the beaten track to some of Wallonia’s most photogenic spots. Or you can keep it more car-focused, visiting the Mahymobiles collection circuit in Route 2 or exploring Spa-francochamps in Route 4. And no visit to the Ardennes is complete without a reflection on Belgium’s role in both world wars – find excellent museums and key locations in Routes 4 and 5.
1. Hit The Road
Tournai to Dinant
What to see? Tournai’s Unesco-worthy belfry and cathedral, the lakes at Cerfontaine, the Château in Beloeil and Hitler’s hideaway in Brûlyde-pesche.
Where to drive? The N598 over the tranquil lakes, the N59 to sample Wallonia’s customary mix of open fields and close-set villages, the roads around Brûly for compact twists in a tunnel of green.
2. Dig Deep
Tournai to Marche-en-famenne
What to see? Mahymobiles for an excellent car collection, full of unrestored and premium vintage machines, the expansive Pairi Daiza zoo, a curious boat lift and a Huyssens baroque church in Namur. Where to drive? The N947 outside Namur for thrills and the roads twisting up to the citadel for grandeur, unparalleled views and cobblestones.
3. Rounded Education
Dinant to Dinant
What to see? Château de Freÿr and its exacting gardens, bijou villages in Vresse and Redu, Ardennes panoramas in Rochehaut and Botassart.
Where to drive? The N935 to Membre, the N893 to Poupehan, the N810 to Bouillon – each oûers the perfect mix of technical twists and dramatic scenery.
4. Ardennes Explorer
Bastogne to Malmedy
What to see? Bastogne’s museums and memorials for Battle of the Bulge history, Nisramont for natural tranquillity, Spa for the spa and Stavelot for top-end race cars.
Where to drive? Down the N616 for Ardennes isolation, over the N68 for cinematic twists and around the N62C to experience Spa’s racing history.
5. Military Memories
Mons to La Roche-en Ardenne
What to see? The touching Memorial Museum in Mons, Hotton’s war cemetery, twin tanks and the jam-packed Museum of the Battle of the Ardennes. Where to drive? The N86 south through Dinant for calming riverside views; the N841 and N89 for a swelling, thunderclap thrill into La Roche.
6. Turn Back Time
Mons to Dinant
What to see? Waterloo, the memorial museum and Hougoumont Farm are a must, as is the ruined abbey at Villers and the still-standing citadel of Namur. Where to drive? The meandering road to Villers for a cruise, the challenging N904 to Namur for fun and the fast N275 for a challenge.