Vallée de l'Amblève

There are several viewpoints on the road between La Gleize and the little town of Stoumont. The finest is "Le Congo", so-called because after Stanley discovered the river Congo at the end of the 19th C. the surrounding forests reminded the local people of the African jungle which had become popular. Above the right-hand bank of the river rises Froidecoeur castle.

From Targnon onwards the road accompanies the river. Here the Lienne flows in, and in its picturesque valley are numerous springs such as those near Chevron; at the end of the valley, near Lienne, an extensive view of the Ardennes appears.

North of Sougné-Remouchamps lies the safari park of Deigné-Aywaille where large African animals live freely in 150ha/370 acres of grounds around which runs a tourist train.

After passing through Lorcé the road bears sharply right and crosses the railroad. Below the lines a footpath leads right down to the bank of the Amblève which here flows along in a particularly romantic reach.

About 5km/3mi south from Aywaille, beyond Sougné-Remouchamps, lies Harzé with a 17th C. castle which has a very fine Renaissance facade and an impressive staircase. In the old mill, within the castle park, a milling museum has been established.

A guided tour leads visitors through the process of turning grain into flour at the Water Mill Museum of Harzé.

Only a little way from Coo lies La Gleize which arouses memories of the Ardennes offensive. In December 1944 an SS Panzer group, stopped because of lack of fuel, drew the population into the bloody fights between Stavelot and Stoumont with over 2500 victims; 100 of the civilians were shot by the SS. The "king's tiger" German armored car which was left behind and the museum "December 1944" are souvenirs of these events.

Near the holiday village of Nonceveux, where the Amblève begins a great curve, the Ninglinspo tributary joins the river. By following this defile on foot we reach in a quarter of an hour the sandstone basin called "La Chaudière" from which flow two waterfalls.

On the right bank of the river from Stavelot lies Trois-Ponts where the Salm flows into the Amblève. The village is a center for walks and canoe trips in summer and in winter for skiing and skating (Wanne and Saint-Jacques).

Trois-Ponts is the starting point for two scenic drives by car: to the east along the stretch called "Boucle de Wanne", partly along the Salm and through the area of the old principality of Salm; to the west on the "Boucle de Basse-Bodeux" between the valleys of the Salm and the Baleur.