Vallée de la Semois National Park
The Vallée de la Semois National Park is a large nature reserve in southern Belgium spanning about 28,900 hectares across eight small towns. Three-quarters of the land is forest with old trees, while the Semois River winds through valleys alongside wetlands and former slate quarries that create varied natural environments.
The region was shaped by centuries of slate mining and tobacco cultivation that changed how people used the land. Medieval castles like Bouillon and Herbeumont rose on the hills, and the Abbey of Orval has been a center of monastic life for many centuries, contributing to the valley's layered past.
The valley holds many local stories and legends that shape how people see the land today. Small villages with old houses and narrow streets reflect the traditions and way of life that have existed here for generations.
The park is accessible through eight small towns, many with visitor centers like the Maison du Parc in Paliseul or tourism centers in Vresse. Marked trails such as the GR 16 footpath, canoeing routes on the Semois, and mountain biking stations at Herbeumont and Vresse accommodate different activity levels.
The abandoned slate quarries have become habitats for rare animals like lynx and otters that are hard to find elsewhere in the region. These former mining sites show how nature reclaims human workplaces and transforms them into wildlife refuges.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
