Nature break: Theux, Spa and Jalhay by electric bike

The town hall was built in 1770 by Barthélemy Digneffe in the Louis XVI style. It houses paintings from the late 18th century depicting Justice and Prosperity. It is open from Monday to Saturday mornings.Opposite it, you won't want to miss the Perron, a symbol of communal freedoms, with its base of four octagonal steps and curious logettes (the place for the stone lion cubs, the emblem of Franchimont) at the base of the column, itself surmounted by a pine cone. The cross represents religious authority, the column, a stone of justice, symbolises civil power, and the pine cone evokes fertility and prosperity. The Perron is the symbol of the franchises acquired by the people of Theut in 1457 in Liège. The current Perron (the third) was erected in 1768 and restored in 1998. The first was demolished in 1468 by Charles the Bold, the second by bad weather. 

ADVENTURES IN THE HEART OF THE FOREST!Situated at La Reid in the community of Theux and 8km from Spa, Forestia is a place dedicated to the understanding of nature. Forestia invites you to immerse yourself 100% in nature, and also have with fun! To do so, Forestia suggests three main activities. The Animal Park invites you to discover wild indigenous animals in semi-liberty and in a unique setting. More than 40 hectares of fields and forests are home to 300 animals from over 30 species.The Animal Park is open all year from 9:30 (10 am in low season) (further information at: www.forestia.be). Closed Mondays and Tuesdays during the low season. The Adventure Park is a walkway in the trees to discover the forest and its inhabitants and also to rediscover yourself through the smell of a challenging adventure (11 trails in the trees, more than 100 obstacles).NEW! The climbing park offers a gentle introduticon to climbing ! 12 outdoor climbing routes, 10 metres hig, on 6 walls in the forest ! From age 8, for the sporting and non- sporting (varying degrees of difficulty).The Adventure & climning Park is open every week-end, every day during the Belgian school and public holidays. Open other days by reservation only (min. 20 people).The Forest’bar, a bar and restaurant in the heart of the forest ! The Forest’bar is open from mid-March to mid-November, from 11h, only to Forestia Park visitors, weekends, public holidays and Belgium school holidays. All year : open to all from Friday to Sunday from 18h (special cases: www.forestbar.be).

The Charmille is a plantation of trees called hornbeams, planted in double rows so that as the trees grow they form a canopy supported on a metal structure.The Charmille du Haut-Marêt (or Haut-Marais) at La Reid is known as the longest in Europe, at 573 metres (and even then it was twice as long when it was planted!); it has about 4,700 hornbeam plants, which are maintained by the nearby School of Agronomy (one month's work per year by a team of young students supervised by teachers).The Charmille is accessible free of charge all year round. It is a pleasant walk in all seasons, as the colours vary from white to different greens and all shades of gold!

Built in 1859 by provincial architect Delsaux, Saint-André church features a Descent from the Cross, copied after Pierre-Paul Rubens (18th century).

Winamplanche, a picturesque village nestling in the valley of the Eau Rouge stream, offers authentic rural charm. Its history dates back to the 10th century, marked by the activities of lumberjacks and blacksmiths. Over the centuries, the village prospered, growing to 27 houses by the 19th century. The current church, completed in 1859, bears witness to its development. Despite the changes, Winamplanche has retained its residential character. Older businesses, such as grocers and cafés, have given way to a village life animated by local associations. The floods of 1969 and the tragedy of 1944 are key events in the village's recent history, demonstrating its resilience in the face of challenges. Today, Winamplanche offers a peaceful setting for an immersive rural getaway, where history and nature meet in harmony.

The former Spa thermal baths, designed by Léon Suys, feature eclectic architecture adorned with sculptures and pilasters. The entrance hall, by Joseph Carpay, is decorated with mythological subjects and elements inspired by Antiquity. Two fountains fed by the famous springs of Spa are located in the hall. The layout of the building was designed to meet the thermal needs of the time, with levels dedicated to baths, changing rooms and doctors' surgeries. A project to convert the building into a mixed-use complex is currently underway and is due to be completed in 2024.

Franchimont Castle was one of the twelve residences and strongholds of the Principality of Liège. Built in the 11th century under the episcopates of Henri de Verdun and Otbert, it served as the administrative and judicial centre for the region between the duchies of Limbourg, Luxembourg and the Principality of Stavelot. The ruins today are divided into three concentric enclosures representing the evolution of fortification from the Middle Ages to modern times. The first enclosure houses the remains of the medieval castle, which was mainly modified in the 16th century. The second enclosure, little preserved, included an eastern reinforcement of the keep, reflecting the advances made by the artillery. Finally, the third enclosure, dating from the time of Erard de la Marck, features early 16th-century military architecture adapted to gunpowder artillery. Despite destruction during the French Revolution, the remaining ruins offer a fascinating insight into the evolution of military architecture in response to advances in weaponry.