The region

East Belgium and the Eifel

With Art Villas you’ll spend your vacation in the Ardenne Bleue (the blue Ardennes). In the heart of the Eifel-Ardennes nature park, you live to the rhythm of the rivers that run through it in deep valleys. The omnipresent forest also surrounds the four highest reservoirs in Belgium and the unique biotope of the High Fens.

The sparse living space of the Belgian eastern cantons is home to peaceful and hardworking people who are proud of their region and value cleanliness. You will often be able to get them through to you in your own language. Welcome to East Belgium! https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en

Another, equally interesting park is located in the German Eifel across the border: the Nationalpark Rursee connects several lakes in a surrounding hilly forest. Alongside magnificent hikes such as the Eifelsteig, the park is also home to Vogelsang, a former training center for the Nazi administrative elite. You will discover impressive architecture, much of which has been renovated and offers two permanent exhibitions and a cafetaria. 

https://vogelsang-ip.de/en/startseite.html

The Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge

If you are interested by the WW2 period you have to know that it has left profound traces in the region. In december 1944, then war-loosing Germany tried in a last effort to stop the allied forces occupying their country. You could visit an interesting museum in Baugnez (between Waimes and Malmedy) with audioguides in 4 languages. At Hasselpath, a place in the forest behind Rocherath, the last belgian village, you also can see how the baby GI’s and their german counterparts tried to get protection in trenches and foxholes during the battle of the the Ardennes. On a walking path near the river Eau Noire, outside  the village of Sourbrodt, you can see the propeller of an american plane which fell in the high fens while flying back from a mission over Germany. https://www.baugnez44.be/en/1.htm

When crossing the german border, you will be able to see in many places strange concrete blocks arising from the fields. They are the remains of the Westwall, a defense barrier which the nazis thought to being able to stop any army to entering their territory. What they didn’t know is that the american troops had bull-dozers, which covered the concrete pads with earth and stones. The tanks where then able to simply pass over the protection line…

Lake Robertville

Lake Robertville

In Robertville, you can pass on a dam ( barrage) built in 1929 to accumulate the waters of the river Warche. It is a massive structure which serves as a water reservoir as well as for the production of electricity for 2000 households.

Castle Reinhardstein

Castle Reinhardstein, Ovifa

Unfar from the parking near the dam, you can admire (and visit at certain hours) an impressive fortress. Reinhardstein castle was built in the 15th century and nearly destroyed when 60 years ago, a professor who was passionate about old stones decided to rebuild it. The position at a key access point of the Warche valley is breathtaking. You can also reach the castle via Ovifat village.

Malmedy

Malmedy

Malmedy, the town downstream the river Warche has a leather and paper industry history. In the Malmundarium, at the left of the barock cathedral, you can have a look on some of the little town’s most famous curiosities : The Cwarmé ( malmedian word for Carnival) museum. The buildings of the former abbey also host thematical exhibitions.

Stavelot

Stavelot

In Stavelot, 10 km further, visit the 18th century abbey, built on the foundations of a 7th century monastery. The renovated complex hosts the Musée du Circuit, which displays vintage racing cars related to the nearby Spa-Francorchamps racing track. In July, there is a theatre festival. In August, you can enjoy chamber music during matinee and evening performances.

Monschau

Monschau

On the german side, worth a visit. This was once an industrial centre which used the low pH of the Rur river to wash the wool in a natural way. Visit the red house, once the residence of a rich merchant. 

Today, Monschau is famous for its magic scenery of half-timbered houses on the river. See the castle, and try the delicious biscuits specialty called Printen. They are made of honey, flour, spices & raw sugar. You can choose between just plain or bitter chocolate-covered, with or without hazelnuts. In the pre-christmas time, you can enjoy the Reibekuchen on the market place (Weihnachtsmarkt) : pan-fried potato cakes served with cranberries and a Glühwein ( hot&spiced red wine)  or a nice beer. There is also a  mustard factory which runs a restaurant where you can enjoy everything based on mustard … even ice cream !

Sports

You can jog at your ease starting from your entrance door. If you like cycling, the RaVel track which passes nearby offers a 600km network. With its hilly and forest-covered landscapes, the region is also a real pleasure for Mountainbikers. You can also try a journey on the rail-bike track which starts at Küchelscheid and leads you to Sourbrodt and back.

There are plenty of trekking possibilities too, with a well-indicated network which can be downloaded via https://www.ostbelgien.eu

In Monschau, there is a well-equipped covered swimming pool with a wellness section.

Skiing or snowshoeing

Skiing or snowshoeing

When there is snow, you will enjoy -although it is often over-packed- the downhill skying area in Ovifat, cross-country skying in either the forest or on prepared tracks available at several places ( Weywertz, Sourbrodt, Elsenborn, Botrange etc…) or snowshoeing at your ease in the forest.

Swimming & canoeiing

Swimming & canoeiing

2 nearby lakes offer swimming, canoeing possibilities:

Robertville: sun-bathing and swimming only at the beach called les Bains . https://walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/en-gb/content/lake-robertville-relaxation-and-wild-swimming

Bütgenbach: You have access to nearly all the shore through a walking path. The official beach is within the Sport&Freizeit Zentrum where you will  also find a covered swimming pool. https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/fiche/bathingplaces/the-lake-at-b-tgenbach-fentastic-beach

Einruhr ( Germany): a cruise boat takes you around the biggest of the three lakes.

Diverse

Buying food

Buying food

Robertville & Sourbrodt: Butcher, baker, small grocery store. 

Waimes and Bütgenbach: supermarkets and grocery stores, bakers, butchers. 

Malmedy: high street shopping and many restaurants near the Place Albert. 

On the german side, the place where to find everything is Imgenbroich. In Kalterherberg, you will find two bakers, a butcher’s shop, and a middle-sized grocery store.

Organic food shops in Bütgenbach ( Weizenkorn) and Malmedy: Bioshopping, Le Bon Wagon.  Locally grown vegetable & food: Malmedy, L’Uni Verts Paysan, l’Epicerie des Champs.

Médical

Medical

Pharmacies : Belgian side: in Weywertz, Bütgenbach, or Sourbrodt, (on the road coming from Robertville). German side: Monschau and Imgenbroich. 

Medical aid-ambulance :

In case of urgence, call 112 indicating the address where you stay.

Hospitals in Malmedy, St Vith, Eupen, Simmerath.

Medevac by helicopter Bra-sur-Lienne

Restaurants

Restaurants

There is a choice of excellent places to eat out: 

  • Le Cheval Blanc in Waimes (well tasting cuisine with a zest of swiss flair).
  • Le new Mont Rigi in Sourbrodt. 
  • Restaurant Pitters in Elsenborn. 
  • The Bütgenbacher Hof, Bütgenbach
  • Restaurant Brüls , Bütgenbach 
  • La Baraque Michel Belgium’s highest restaurant (specialty venison)

Trout speciality:

  • la Truite Argentée, Malmedy
  • Perlbacher Mühle, Höfen, Germany

Quality Chinese: Asia Délices in Malmedy ( operated by Wu Tong and Li Hua) offer good chinese cuisine (without MSG)

Local Breweries

Local Breweries

Brasserie de Bellevaux, (near Malmedy): discover the art of brewing belgian beers and try one or more of their blanche, blonde, brune or at Christmas time, noire beers.

New: Peak Brewers, the highest Belgian beer maker in Sourbrodt.

Botanical Health Products

Botanical Health Products

Ortis laboratories in Elsenborn is our family-owned business specialized in natural health products since 1958. Their positive effects are based on the physiological action of botanical ingredients. You can get advice and purchase from the Factory Shop.

Herba Sana Gardens

Herba Sana Gardens

Ortis laboratories opens its botanical garden to the public from june 21st until mid September.