Durbuy
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Durbuy

Durbuy

Tiny Ardennes city on the Ourthe, with a medieval core and forested hills for kayaking

Durbuy claims to be the smallest city in the world — it holds a formal charter of city status while having a population of only a few hundred in the historic core. Whether or not the claim holds up to scrutiny, the medieval centre is genuinely lovely: cobblestone streets, an old stone bridge over the Ourthe, and a tight cluster of historic buildings presided over by a 17th-century castle.

Cross the old bridge and you face the Castle of Ursel, rebuilt in the 17th century on the ruins of an 11th-century fortification, with the Saint-Nicolas Church and the Corn Hall — a half-timbered civic building documented since 1380 — completing the ensemble. The whole historic core can be walked in under an hour, which is part of its appeal.

The surrounding Ardennes countryside is the other draw. Kayaking the Ourthe is the quintessential summer activity, with outfitters in Barvaux-sur-Ourthe, 5 kilometres away, providing equipment and logistics for river trips. Rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking trails fan out into the forested hills above the valley. A quirky topiary park near the edge of town offers something different for families.

Durbuy fills up with day-trippers from Brussels and Liège on summer weekends. If you want the town to yourself, arrive on a weekday morning in spring or autumn.

Guide

Eating Out

Durbuy has a remarkably good dining scene for a town of its size. The concentration of restaurants around the main square and along the cobbled lanes caters to the weekend tourist crowd from Brussels and Liège, which means quality is generally high and prices are urban rather than rural. Belgian staples — waffles, grilled meats, local cheeses, and good beer — dominate, but you will also find proper cooking with regional Ardennes ingredients.

Guide

Getting There

Durbuy is in the Belgian Ardennes in the province of Luxembourg, about 120 kilometres southeast of Brussels. There is no direct train to Durbuy itself; the nearest station is at Barvaux-sur-Ourthe (5 km away), accessible from Liège via the Liège-Marloie line. Trains run regularly between Liège-Guillemins and Barvaux; from Barvaux a taxi or bicycle will get you to Durbuy.

By car, take the E40 motorway east from Brussels toward Liège, then branch south on the E25 toward Luxembourg city and exit for Durbuy. The drive from Brussels takes about 90 minutes. From Liège it is about 50 kilometres via the N86 through the Ourthe valley — a scenic route worth taking if time allows. Parking outside the historic centre is usually available on summer weekends, but the streets inside the old town are closed to traffic.

Guide

Things to Do

Durbuy punches well above its weight for such a small town. The medieval core is compact enough to walk in an hour, but the surrounding Ardennes countryside opens up for kayaking on the Ourthe, rock climbing at Bomal, and hiking through forested hills. The combination of history and outdoor activity keeps visitors busy for a full weekend.