Verviers, dive into the past at the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics
Closed for over two years due to damage suffered in the floods of July 2021, the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics in Verviers reopened in January. And it's well worth the trip. You'll be able to admire a sample of ancient, modern and contemporary European paintings (from the 15th to the 20th century), sculptures, engravings, furniture, lace and archaeological pieces. The Museum also boasts one of Belgium's largest and most interesting ceramics collections. Chinese porcelain, German and Austrian products, Brussels sets, blue and polychrome Delft earthenware, Raeren stoneware, pieces from Andenne and Strasbourg, as well as a section showcasing modern ceramics. These marvels are presented in a new display, just until the entire collection is available to admire at the future museum located in the listed building of the Hôtel de Biolley.
A former wool-making city at the height of its industrial power and wealth at the end of the 19th century, Verviers has preserved many works of art from its glorious past, acquired by wealthy industrialists who assembled collections to match their fortunes, sometimes with the invaluable advice of Jean-Simon Renier, painter, historian and collector. In 1884, Renier founded the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics in the former "Hôpital nouveau" and donated engravings, paintings, ceramics and sculptures to the City of Verviers. Thanks to his friends, shortly after his death, the institution was enriched by bequests of extraordinary size and quality. In addition to the ceramics collection, these donations, together with those of the artist, unveil a true panorama of European painting. Many visitors make the journey to come and admire this exhaustive collection. Modern art is by no means neglected and several rooms are devoted to the intimate Verviers school, painters who depicted the region's villages and slices of nature, including one of its most famous representatives, Maurice Pirenne.
The Verviers Museum is also a great place for family fun. And what could be more entertaining than playing a game while wandering around a museum? With the "Guess Who?"® board game, parents and grandparents can help their children and grandchildren discover the collections of paintings, sculptures and ceramics. You can play in pairs or teams in a new twist on this famous game. Armed with a board featuring the faces of 25 of the museum's most emblematic characters, each player must answer a series of questions to discover their opponent's mystery character. Once the game is over, children can go in search of their character hidden in the paintings and ceramics. Thanks to a small booklet provided, they can even learn a little more about the work on display. A museum visit that's full of fun and surprises. And on the first Sunday of every month, admission is free!
Fancy a family outing? Follow in the footsteps of Maurice Pirenne. One hundred years ago, this renowned painter surveyed his native Verviers and produced almost 600 pastels of its most charming spots. Equipped with a map and a fun, educational booklet, why not set off to discover this wool-making city of yesteryear? musees.verviers.be
The Venntrilogie, walking route of the year
Desperate for some fresh air? Close to the Verviers region, the Eastern Cantons can't fail to impress when it comes to hiking, with some of them even winning awards. And the Venntrilogie is one of them. This new hiking trail takes you on a discovery of the Eupen region, part of the High Fens and the Warche valley between Malmedy and Butgenbach. This year, the Venntrilogie was named "Wandelroute van het Jaar" (walking route of the year) at the "Fiets- en Wandelbeurs" outdoor trade fair in Ghent. Each year, the prize is awarded to the most beautiful long-distance hiking trails in the Benelux region. Another route, the Vennbahn, had already won this award in 2014. Before being awarded this title, the quality of the Venntrilogie had already been certified in 2023 by the European Hiking Federation, earning the prestigious "Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe" label.
This route is the best way for nature lovers and hikers to discover the richness of the Eastern Cantons. Inaugurated in August 2023, it runs 109 kilometres from the Three-border point (Belgium, Netherlands, Germany) near La Calamine to Butgenbach. But what makes it so special? It links the three emblematic landscapes of the Fens, revealing the most surprising natural spots of the Eastern Cantons: the landscape of farms and their hedgerows to the north, the peat bogs of the High Fens in the centre, and scenery boasting forests and lakes to the south.
Divided into six stages, this trail takes you on a true journey of discovery. The adventure begins in the Northern Fens, not far from Eupen. There are many stiles dotting the route, allowing you to move from one meadow to another.
Stage 1: Three-border point – Eynatten (23.5 km). Discover the lush green hills between graceful forests, picturesque hedgerows and orchards.
Stage 2: Eynatten – Eupen (18.9 km). On the second stage, you walk between villages, across meadows and into the Hertogenwald before reaching the town of Eupen.
The High Fens and their typical plateaux of pure nature between Eupen and Malmedy immerse you in prehistory, a no-man's-land that still retains all its mystery today.
Stage 3: Eupen – Botrange (24.8 km). The longest stage of your adventure takes you gently up to the highest point of Belgium. The itinerary will show you the entire diversity of the High Fens, from the idyllic views in the Hill Valley to the vast arid landscapes of the Walloon Fens.
Stage 4: Botrange – Malmedy (19.9 km). It’s time for the descent from Botrange, the highest point in Belgium, to Malmedy. On your way, you’ll see the sightseeing classics Cascade du Bayehon and the Trôs-Marets canyon.
In the Southern Fens, where nature meets folklore and follows the rhythm of the Warche, the most Ardennes of all regions, water is the common theme that unites all these routes.
Stage 5: Malmedy – Robertville (10.6 km). Cross the Warche valley, discover the breathtaking view over the valley and admire the famous Reinhardstein castle.
Stage 6: Robertville – Butgenbach (11.9 km). To end nicely, the last stage leads you through the pastoral landscapes, and shows off the Warche in all its facets whilst walking along the Lake of Robertville and then up along the river.
As you can see, the Venntrilogie is a hike that takes you on a journey of discovery through the Eastern Cantons, a region at the crossroads of three cultures. Armed with the official hiking guide, let yourself be carried away by the legends and destinies of heroes, both real and imaginary. Here you'll find out the various stories behind these six stages. Finally, when you need a well-earned rest, you can easily pick out the accommodation best suited to your needs from the wide range on offer.
www.ostbelgien.eu/en/venntrilogie
By Jacqueline Remits
