Radhadesh

The Ardennes


About 4km west of Durbuy, the photogenic Château de Petite Somme is a 13th-century structure with appealing neo-Gothic additions. However, touring the interior reveals restored gilt mouldings mixed with vividly coloured wall paintings of Vedic deities watched over by enthroned Prabhupada statues. Such decor makes sense since this is the headquarters of Belgium’s Hare Krishna community.

All comers can peruse the gift shop, visit a museum of 'sacred art' (www.mosabelgium.com), and eat at Govinda's, the community's vegetarian restaurant. However, to get inside the main castle building you'll need to join somewhat overlong guided tours that take in the temple room, the tower and a 15-minute video on Krishna consciousness. In summer there might be an Indian dance demonstration too.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Ardennes attractions

1. Château de Durbuy

2.23 MILES

At the heart of Durbuy is this fairly modest riverside castle that dates from 1756, the medieval original having been destroyed by the ravages of Louis…

2. Le Labyrinthe

4.28 MILES

Around 2km north Barvaux (6km east of Durbuy), every summer a sculpted labyrinth is cut into a maize field, following a different design each year. Allow…

3. Grottes de Hotton

6.51 MILES

Hidden beneath partly wooded hills 1.7km southwest of Hotton, the Grottes de Hotton are some of Belgium’s most awesome caves. Sculpted grottoes sprout…

4. Château de Modave

8.32 MILES

Few of Belgium’s numerous castles have an interior that beats the memorable Château de Modave. The most arresting of the well-preserved 1673 stucco…

5. Musée de la Bataille des Ardennes

13.62 MILES

Waxwork scenes, maps and the odd video provide a competent, if unsophisticated, explanation of La Roche’s involvement in the wintry WWII Battle of the…

6. Château Féodal

13.7 MILES

La Roche’s picture-postcard 11th-century ruins look especially memorable floodlit on a foggy night when viewed from the Hotton road. There's not a great…

7. Parc à Gibier

13.71 MILES

Parc à Gibier is typical of several Ardennes animal parks that are designed to introduce children to local wildlife, notably deer, wolves and wild boars…

8. Musée Communal

13.82 MILES

Huy's quaint little city museum occupies rooms set off a very picturesque 1669 cloister that's open to visitors even outside official opening hours…