Durbuy, Belgium
Visiting Durbuy in one day
During our rooftop tent weekend in the Belgian Ardennes, we spent a day visiting Durbuy. Located 1.5 hours from Brussels in the Luxembourg province, this ancient medieval town with cobbled streets is surrounded by wooded hills and crossed by the Ourthe river.
Durbuy is often associated with “the smallest town in the world”, which today is more of a tourist slogan than a reality. With its 400 inhabitants in the city center, Durbuy is surpassed by Hum in Croatia with only 30 inhabitants. This anecdote dates back to the 14th century, when John I, King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg, granted Durbuy city status so that it could have an army.
Practical Information
Where to park in Durbuy?
To avoid paying, we park at the Pré Georis car park, which is 900 meters from the old town. To reach the center, we take the path that runs along the Ourthe. The place is picturesque despite the large, gray and threatening clouds above our heads. Another option for reaching the center of Durbuy is to take the shuttle that connects with the car park every 10 minutes.
You can also find more than 300 parking spaces directly in the city center, but these are paid. For more information, you can visit the city website.
What to see in Durbuy in one day?
Walking along the Ourthe
The Ourthe traverses Durbuy and adds a touch of bucolic charm. We followed the river from the Pré Georis parking to the castle in the town center. We saw several kayaks starting their descent of the Ourthe. An activity that must be great to do in good weather.
Durbuy Castle
On the banks of the Ourthe, an imposing castle overlooks the old town from its rock. Today, it belongs to the Ursel family.
Durbuy Belvedere
The Belvedere viewpoint, located on a cliff overlooking Durbuy, offers a panoramic view of the old town and the Ourthe river meander. To reach it, we took the stairs, well hidden by the vegetation on the left of the "Eau de Roche" Hotel. This is followed by a small path through the woods, quite soaked from the recent rain, leading to the summit. Misinformed, it is closed when we arrive. Apparently, it is only accessible when the tourist train is running.
Viewpoint on Durbuy
We go back down through the woods on the other side of town and we stumble upon a lovely viewpoint of the old town of Durbuy and its castle. For context, the viewpoint is at the top of the Anticlinal.
Durbuy Rock
Our little hike up the heights ends at the edge of the Ourthe, right next to the Anticlinal Springs. Highlighted by a plaza and bodies of water, the anticline, or this surprising vault-like fold in the rock, is a recognized geological phenomenon like a cave, gallery, or underground lake.
Wandering through the small streets of the city center
Most of the alleys in Durbuy's city center are pedestrianized, which gives us time to observe the details around us. You could be transported back a few years with the region's historic stone houses and winding cobbled alleys.
You can find many small shops selling decorations, clothing, or local produce, as well as various restaurants, bars, and several hotels.
Activities in Durbuy
Different paid activities are offered in the Durbuy center, such as the Mini Golf or the Topiary Garden. Nearby, you can find Adventure Valley, the largest adventure park in Belgium. As it rained in the afternoon, we returned home and did not try these different activities.
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