Château de Reinhardstein

The Ardennes


The very picturesque Château de Reinhardstein was built in 1354 and restored to archetypal fortress appearance in 1969. Entry is by 75-minute guided tours but even when closed, it’s well worth admiring the sturdy exterior and, perhaps, walking the 40-minute 'cascade' loop hike that crosses two little footbridges and views a modest ribbon of waterfall.

On Thursday nights in July and August there's a candelight tour with storytelling, but it's not in English. The castle is on the southernmost edge of Ovifat via an idyllic little streamside lane that descends 500m from a small car park. There's alternative pedestrian access from the Robertsbridge Dam.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Ardennes attractions

1. Botrange Nature Centre

2.81 MILES

A possible starting point for hikes, this impressive information centre 200m west of the Eupen–Bütenbach road has a big hooded fire hearth, a cafe serving…

2. Signal de Botrange

3.43 MILES

Signal de Botrange, 5km north of Ovifat, is Belgium’s highest point, though at 694m that's not saying much. From the road, the only eye-catching feature…

4. Malmundarium

3.75 MILES

In the covered former abbey cloisters beside Malmédy's cathedral, this cultural centre/museum hosts temporary exhibitions to pad out a city-history…

5. Abbaye de Stavelot

8.59 MILES

The once-gigantic church of the Stavelot-Malmédy prince-abbots was destroyed in the aftermath of the French Revolution. But behind the archaeological…

6. Eglise Saint-Sébastien

8.64 MILES

Behind a slightly shabby facade, this 1754 baroque church contains the truly magnificent sarcophagus of St-Remacle, a 1268 masterpiece of gilded metalwork…

7. Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand

10.74 MILES

The restored, octagonal-fronted stone building hosting the tourist office was the site of Spa’s original springs. It was renamed for Russian tsar Peter…

8. Casino

10.79 MILES

Spa had the 'world’s first’ casino in 1763, and the 19th-century incarnation here now forms part of a grand central trio of neoclassical buildings, along…