I truly love autumn in Belgium with all its magnificent colors and nostalgic vibes. It is the perfect season to go hiking in the woods and look for nature’s little treasures like toadstools, chestnuts and acorns. I don’t care what kind of weather it is during autumn, the autumn foliage makes every day brighter and beautiful.
On rainy days, the scent of rain, moist forest soil and leaves floats through the air. A perfume I absolutely love! The red and golden autumn foliage brings warmth and color to the grey, moody and colder days. When the sun shines, it seems like nature sparkles with its final beauty and charm, as if it had been waiting all year for this magical moment to climax.
Even though we don’t really celebrate Halloween in Belgium (it is starting to become more popular though), also here pumpkins are associated with autumn, whether it is to eat or decorate the house. So visiting a pumpkin farm or pumpkin patch is definitely one of my favorite autumn activities as well!
Unfortunately for many, autumn is also a reminder that all things come to an end. People tend to get more depressed since the days get shorter and darker. Especially now that we are in lockdown and not able to see many people. I prefer to link autumn more with cozy and nostalgic vibes though!
So I made it my mission to look for the best places to experience autumn in Belgium, so you can soak up the same positive autumn vibes and learn to see its beauty. This article will show you where to go to spend the perfect autumn day in Belgium and to brighten your spirit!
This post shall be updated every time I discover more places to visit in autumn!
Most beautiful places to experience autumn in Belgium & go forest bathing
Did you know that being surrounded by nature has a positive effect on your mindset? Walking through a magnificent forest is a soothing and relaxing experience. The fresh air gives an energy boost and nature’s raw beauty brings instant happiness! The Japanese gave it a name; shinrin-yoku, which means forest bathing. It is even included in their national health program to reduce stress and depression! The goal of forest bathing is to live in the present moment while immersing your senses in the sights and sounds of a natural setting. So going for a hike in the woods is not only the perfect autumn experience, it will increase both your physical and mental health!
These are some of the most beautiful places to go forest bathing and to fully experience autumn!
Nismes, Namur
Nismes is a small village about 100 km south from Brussels. Even though you will already find the perfect autumn vibes in the town center with its charming houses covered in red foliage such as the Château Bivort, a water mill and the ruin of the old “Pont d’Avignon” castle. It is not the town itself, but the nature surrounding it, that makes it the perfect place to experience autumn in Belgium.
Its main attraction is Fondry des Chiens, a chasm of about 100 m long with a depth of 20 m. The view of this small canyon surrounded by the colorful trees is absolutely splendid! To reach it and experience even more autumn vibes, I strongly recommend to do the 8 km hike that starts at the town’s church, Saint-Lambert de Nismes. It is indicated with a yellow rectangle and will guide you through the magnificent woods of Les Abannets and the nature reserve of Dourbes.
Walking under a red and golden roof of leaves, while soaking up the scent of the moist soil with the sound of leaves crunching under my feet, gave me the ultimate feeling of happiness. Especially when I found a lot of toadstools along the way!
Before arriving at Fondry des Chiens you’ll pass the viewpoint of La Roche aux Faucons and the train track of the Trois Vallées steam locomotive and its tunnel decorated with leaves. This was a nice unexpected extra! Unfortunately the train did not run due to Covid-19 restrictions. You can check the train’s timetable here.
The detailed itinerary of this hike can be found here.
Domaine de Chevetogne, Namur
Even though I definitely recommend visiting this recreational domain during summer with its many activities such as canoeing, mini-golf and swimming, the Domaine de Chevetogne must not be overlooked during autumn in Belgium. All activities will be closed, but you can still visit the park for free during low season. There are no crowds and you can enjoy a walk through its colorful woods in all calmth. Next to its beautiful forest and gardens, you will find wooden cabins, dreamy ponds and cute constructions like a hobbit house; fairy-tale autumn vibes guaranteed!
Furfooz Nature Reserve, Namur
The Furfooz Nature Reserve is located in the Lesse Valley not far from Dinant. It is truly an exceptional piece of nature, especially during autumn. You’ll find giant caves and sinkholes, idyllic stairways leading through impressive rock formations covered in green moss, a Roman bath house,…
But my absolute favorites were the fantastic views of the Lesse Valley! The sight of the trees flaunting with their brilliant autumn colors, decorated with mysterious rising veils of mist, the meanders of the Lesse river and even a train track made me feel as if I was looking at a scene from a Harry Potter movie.
The vegetation in this park is different from the other woods I have visited. A lot of tongue ferns grow in the park and it is very lush. The entire walk is about 4 km and offers a lot of variation. Just make sure to wear decent hiking shoes, because some parts can be very slippery!
Chiny, Luxembourg
Chiny is a village situated by the river Semois close to the French border. To reach it, you will have to cross the photogenic bridge Saint Nicolas. The parking lot near Hotel Comtes de Chiny is the perfect base to start the two hikes you can do to experience a day full of autumn vibes in Belgium.
The first one is a short hike leading to the Rocher du Hât. It starts at the kayak rental at the end of the Rue de Cornicelles. This 15 minute walk will lead you through the forest and a lush area covered with ferns. Due to last Summer’s drought a lot of ferns had a beautiful orange color when I was there, which offered a beautiful contrast with the remaining green ferns and trees. After a short climb you will be able to admire the view from the top of the rock of the winding Semois surrounded by hills covered with yellow, orange and green foliage. Standing on the rock with the wind in your hair gives you the ultimate feeling of freedom and happiness!
You can return the same way back to the hotel and cross the red pedestrian bridge to start hiking to two more viewpoints with similar river views; the Rocher de l’Ecureuil and the Rocher du Pinco. You’ll arrive at the first one in about 15 minutes, after crossing a little stream on a wooden bridge. I suggest after visiting the Rocher de l’Ecureuil to go back down and continue the hike along the river. This will offer more variety during your walk.
After 30 minutes and a very steep climb, you’ll arrive at the Rocher du Pinco. Luckily there is a bench you can sit on to rest from the climb and to enjoy the marvelous view. You do not need to go back down via the steep hill path, if you do not like it. You can also take the other less steep path that will lead back to the path along the river. I did these hikes on a rainy autumn day and this was perfectly doable. There are no slippery rocks during the hike, just some muddy paths. During autumn most mud is covered with golden leaves, so this makes it more pleasant and easy to walk!
This hike will definitely show you that during autumn the ground becomes the final resting place for leaves, chestnuts, acorns, pine cones and blown off branches (I even got one on my head as a reminder, which was a little less amusing!). But it also becomes the life source for toadstools and berry bushes! During this walk I kept finding toadstools and other treasures of nature! It made me feel like a little child and I am not ashamed to admit that I still love leaping into leaves!
The detailed itinerary of these hikes can be found here.
Le Tombeau du Géant, Luxembourg
At the small commune Botassart you’ll find one of the most impressive viewpoints of Belgium, the Tombeau du Géant. It is called “Giant’s Tomb” because the hill, which is formed by a meander of the river Semois, looks like a huge coffin.
During autumn “the coffin” and the surrounding hills get a golden glow, especially early in the morning with the rising sun. From the viewpoint you can go hiking along the river banks of the Semois, which will lead you to a hanging bridge and some fantastic viewpoints!
I really loved the old house (Moulin du Rivage) I encountered with its smoking chimney. It looked so cozy and it was enclosed by a little stream that flowed into the Semois river. I could imagine myself sitting in front of the fire with a good book, staring outside the window to see the leaves falling down.
Le Lac de Nisramont, Luxembourg
The Lac de Nisramont is the place where the western and eastern Ourthe rivers merge and become the Ourthe river. There are two reasons why this is a perfect place to experience autumn in Belgium. Not only does the view from the dam on the wooden cabin in the river surrounded by colorful trees makes you feel as if you were teleported to Canada. You can also hike at this dreamy autumn place.
The 13 km hike starts at the dam Barrage de Nisramont, where you can easily park your car. Follow the red diamond to hike along the river and enjoy some amazing views! There are some steep slippery parts, so I recommend to do this hike on a sunny autumn day.
Le Hérou, Luxembourg
Only 10 minutes north from Lac de Nisramont you will find Le Hérou. This massive rock formation offers the perfect opportunity to hike and to enjoy more magnificent views on the Ourthe valley.
You can park at the closed hotel Le Belvedère. At the end of the Rue du Hérou you walk straight into the forest, ignoring the path on your left. You can choose between an easier path or a more difficult path which will make you climb over rocks, but has some awesome views!
I didn’t do the complete hike due to the bad weather. But there are many different hikes you can do ranging from 3 to 12 km. They will take you down to the riverside of the Ourthe and if you do the longer hike, you will also encounter the historical site, Le Cheslé. The path right next to the river is probably only accessible during summer, when the river tide is low. But the views from the rocks above at the beginning of the hike are reason enough to come here during the autumn season. I sat at a rock for half an hour just to stare at the colorful trees and the river. It really had a calming effect on me!
Bayehon Waterfall
“Are there waterfalls in Belgium?”, you probably wonder… Yes, there are! They may not be huge, since we have no mountains, but that does not mean they are less idyllic! With its 9 m height, the Cascade du Bayehon is the third largest waterfall of Belgium. It is located near Longfaye in the High Fens.
I definitely recommend to do the Deux Vallées hike so you can enjoy the colorful surroundings. The hike will take you along the river and once you discover the waterfall a little lower in the small canyon, you will be amazed! During autumn the waterfall contains significantly more water and is surrounded by the most beautiful colorful foliage!
The Hoëgne Valley
The valley of the Hoëgne river is the perfect place to experience autumn and to go forest bathing! The Hoëgne is one of the most impressive rivers of Belgium. Its source is situated at 660m altitude near Baraque Michel, one of Belgium’s highest points. You can hike along the river’s steepest, most fast flowing part, where you will find a lot of little waterfalls and rapids to admire. During autumn the river is flanked with golden and red trees. The moss on the rocks in the river gives it an extra fairy-tale-like effect.
The sound of the flowing river has a very calming effect. I was there early in the morning. So I had the forest and the river all to myself. A small breeze made the leaves whirl down freely, taking their time for their first and only journey towards the moist forest ground. Some were lucky to land in the river, so their journey could continue with the water to an unknown destination.
Sitting on a rock on the bank of a river is definitely one of my favorite things to do when I need to de-stress and this is the perfect place to do exactly that!
Details about the hiking trail can be found here.
Perfect castles to experience autumn in Belgium & soak up some fairy-tale vibes!
Since Belgium actually has the greatest number of castles per square kilometer in the world, I can’t write this post without mentioning a few castles being surrounded by the perfect autumn backdrop! Especially because I absolutely love castles and I have visited already quite a lot of them this year!
Reinhardstein, the perfect autumn castle in Belgium
The first one is Reinhardstein castle, situated near the lake of Robertville. Not only is this castle located on top of a hill surrounded by golden trees, offering gorgeous views. Its backyard also contains Belgium’s highest waterfall; Cascade de Reinhardstein! You can either do longer hikes in the castle area, or just follow the sign to the waterfall. By following the sign you will encounter some magnificent views of the castle and the autumn foliage and you’ll end up at the bottom of the valley, following the Warche river to the waterfall.
The descent to the waterfall is steep, but the view of the waterfall surrounded by the trees boasting with their last beauty is perfectly splendid and gives you true fairy-tale vibes! What more do you need while forest bathing?
Walzin Castle
Walzin is another castle in Wallonia near Dinant and rather hidden. It is located on a cliff next to the river Lesse and you can only spot it, if either you are going for a kayak trip on the river, or you go hiking there. The view of the castle on the cliff is simply epic. It looks like a scene from a Disney movie.
The path along the Lesse to reach the viewpoint is decorated with trees changing color and the sound of the river is soothing. It is way more pleasant to visit during autumn, than in the middle of summer when the river is packed with kayaks!
Vêves Castle
I do not know what it is about Vêves castle, but I absolutely love it! To me it looks like a small version of Hogwarts with its 6 round castle towers on top of the hill. Especially when you see it appearing from behind the trees while driving the N910 (Rue du Pîrli). So make sure to walk down that street to discover views of the castle on the hill! If this is not magical enough already, you will also find some cute fairy-tale-like houses in the street. It is the perfect place to explore during a moody autumn day, which adds even more mystery and nostalgia!
Château Wolfenstein, Luxembourg
Grey, moody, rainy days, Halloween… these things make me automatically associate autumn with ghosts, cemeteries, haunted houses… So I thought a spooky mansion should not be missed in this list of best places to experience autumn in Belgium!
Château Wolfenstein is an abandoned castle built in 1931 by a rich banker. After WWII the castle was part of a Swiss sanatorium which treated war victims with TBC. Later it became a retirement home, but since the 90’s the castle is abandoned.
It was super spooky to walk around the mansion. Its garden is overgrown and the bushes are starting to cover the facade. I heard branches break in the woods surrounding the garden, as if someone was walking towards me from behind the trees. But no living (or dead) soul was to be seen. I did not dare to stare at the windows for too long, because I was scared I would see someone appear staring down at me. At a certain moment it seemed as if a light was shining in my eyes (3 times), even though there was no sun and nothing to see.
Château Wolfenstein is an urbex location, so it is not its official name. I can not share its exact location, because that is the number one rule in the urbex world. If you Google it and you know which platforms to check, it is not hard to find its actual name. I found its real name in 5 minutes. Once you know the name, you know its location! (If I am able to find it, I am sure you are too! Good luck!) If you decide to visit, please respect the place and do not enter the house itself.
Pumpkin madness during autumn in Belgium
Kasterlee, Antwerp, THE place for a pumpkin autumn in Belgium!
Autumn means pumpkin season. Did you know that Kasterlee is THE pumpkin town in Belgium? Every year in October pumpkin festivities are organized and there is even a weighting competition for biggest pumpkin! The participating pumpkins can weigh up to 1000 kilos!
You can also participate in a pumpkin regatta! Meaning you have to paddle in your hollowed out pumpkin (serving as a canoe) to the finish! Unfortunately all the festivities were cancelled this year due to Covid-19. But the pumpkin society was so nice to invite me to their private fields, so I could take some photos there. They also showed me the giant pumpkins that would participate in the now more private weighting competition.
You can always go to De Pompoenerie though. This is a work experience center for people with a (work) disability. They grow and sell pumpkins and you can visit their garden.
Let’s hope we will be able to experience the pumpkin festivities next year!
I really hope I gave you enough inspiration to pick up the positive autumn vibes and to make this difficult time a little brighter!
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