Ardennes, Low mountain range in southern Belgium
The region spreads across three countries and includes forested uplands with deeply cut river valleys. The landscape alternates between dense conifer woods, open moorlands, and gentle hills of sandstone and slate.
The Romans built roads here to connect their northern provinces, leaving behind foundations and coins. In the winter of 1944, one of the longest battles of World War II took place in these forests, shaping the area for decades.
The region is known for smoked ham and game from the surrounding forests, prepared in local restaurants. Many villages feature small churches built from grey stone that have shaped these communities for centuries.
Many paths are wide and well marked, some run through wet sections with wooden boardwalks. Elevation changes are usually moderate, but some valleys require steep climbs up and down.
Carnivorous plants grow in the peat bogs, catching insects to gain nutrients. These bogs formed over thousands of years in depressions where water pooled and organic material accumulated.
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