The valley of the Viroin

In the Ardennes you can indulge yourself if you like beautiful nature, hills and authentic country villages. This route takes you through the valley of the river Viroin in the southern part of the Ardennes.

Viroin-Hermeton Natural Park
A large part of the route takes you through the unspoilt nature reserve of Viroin-Hermeton. Here you will find a mosaic of deciduous and coniferous forests, grasslands and moist meadows. Also characteristic are the hundreds of gorges in this nature reserve, some of which are almost 100 meters long. The soil is very calcareous in some places, so thousands of wild orchids bloom in May and June.

Castle ruin
You pass through a number of old villages, such as charming Dourbes, which lies in the shadow of a castle ruin. The castle, which stands on a rocky outcrop, was already destroyed in 1555. Also in Nismes you can feast your eyes with all the historical buildings that you will find here. The church, for example, dates from the fourteenth century, although it was extensively restored in the fifties of the last century.