Wallonia is the French-speaking, southern region of
Belgium. It shares the bilingual capital,
Brussels, with Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern region. From the Ardennes mountains in the south to the rolling hills and the green and fertile plains dotted with quirky belfries, plenty of art and culture have sprung from Wallonia. The surrealist painter René Magritte was born in the Hainaut area, and you can see a fabulous collection of his work in Brussels at the
Magritte Museum.
Namur is the capital of the region, and it boasts a fabulously curvaceous late Baroque cathedral. The
Citadel of Namur offers a fine view of the city and its two rivers.
Liege is the economic and cultural centre of Wallonia, and is known for its top quality chocolate, and its waffles. The city also hosts many folk festivals, the
15th of August Festival being the biggest of these. Crowds gather to watch the processions and eat sausages, crepes or waffles, and drink plenty of beer: try the Wallonian ambrée ale. Don’t miss the bustling
Batte market which stretches along the river every Sunday morning.
More in
Wallonia Guide