Experience an active break with soothing calm from a holiday home in the French Ardennes

The Ardennes is a region that largely covers Belgium’s Wallonia but extends a little further into France. Compared with other regions in the country, the French Ardennes still offer a relative hush. A holiday home in this border area is a great choice if you want more of nature to yourself. There’s still plenty to see, though. For example along the Meuse, which meanders at your side on a cycling tour. Plan a day of canoeing on the Semois River or walk the long boardwalk at Croix Scaille in Les Hautes-Rivières. If you book a holiday home in the French Ardennes, you’re also well placed to visit the striking church in Asfeld or sip a drink on the splendid square in Charleville!

Cycling along the Meuse from your French Ardennes holiday home

As in Belgium, the Ardennes in France are crossed by the Meuse. The river’s scenic banks invite you to enjoy a relaxed bike ride. The Meuse cycle route between Mouzon and Givet is a beautiful stretch with rolling countryside that gradually gives way to steep hills. You won’t have to conquer many of them, as the route is mostly flat. You may notice from the slight resistance on the pedals and the river locks that the path gently climbs.

Walking and cycling along the Semois River

The Meuse is not only a fine guide for cyclists. Trails spring up all along the banks of this winding river. In the small town of Monthermé, where the Meuse and the Semois meet, a hike begins that leads past several viewpoints. A promising walk where you can soak up serene nature starts from the village of Tournavaux. Paths will guide you from here along the Semois River, which murmurs as you stroll beside its banks. You weave into the woods, with occasional open landscapes. All in all, it’s a pleasant and varied 9-kilometre nature walk. Cycling along the Semois, away from traffic, is also an option. On the way you’ll pass picturesque river villages and rock formations in the forests.

Tip: Want to explore the Semois Valley by canoe, bike or on foot? Thilay is a picturesque base. From here you can get onto the water of the Semois River and enjoy the beautiful valley with steep wooded slopes and small waterfalls.

Walking in Les Hautes-Rivières

You’ll find even more joyous hiking in the forests of Les Hautes-Rivières. Trails lead you into the Massif de l’Ardenne, with paths through dense woods and along babbling streams. Various viewpoints add fun variety, such as the jutting Bayart rock. From here you overlook the meandering Meuse and the village of Monthermé. A sight that sweetens the route even more is the stone Saint-Lambert bridge in the village of Vresse-sur-Semois. Walkers who want a lovely, moderate route are drawn to the boardwalk at Croix Scaille. It starts at the Ferme Jacob farm and is about 7 kilometres long. The trail crosses open terrain where peat was once cut, and at a certain point you also enter a forest with a small river running through it.

Visit Parc Argonne Découverte from your French Ardennes holiday home

A day out with children from a holiday home in the French Ardennes is certainly an option. Visit Parc Argonne Découverte, an educational wildlife park in Olizy-Primat, where you can discover various animals and their habitats. You can even watch wolves being fed. You’ll also encounter many other remarkable species, such as the giant snail, the snowy owl, several birds of prey, the genet and the wallaby. The park offers plenty of room to play and climb thanks to a treetop course and an adventurous playground. For even more thrills, head to Fumay, where you can tackle obstacles among the treetops or zoom along a zipline over the Meuse that’s more than a kilometre long.

Visit Charleville and Place Ducale square

Charleville-Mézières is the most prominent city in the French Ardennes. The centre of Charleville has a surprising allure. Around Place Ducale stand proud 17th-century buildings shoulder to shoulder, all with typical sand-coloured façades. Beneath the arcades you’ll find many restaurants with beautiful views of the square. The atmosphere is aristocratic, with a hint of Paris. That’s no surprise when you realise that architect Louis Métezeau also designed Place des Vosges, one of the finest squares in the French capital.

The Saint-Didier church in Asfeld and the citadel of Givet

Churches in the French Ardennes are often pleasant bonuses to stumble upon. One you should make time to visit consciously is the Saint-Didier church in Asfeld, notable for its striking design. The nave is not straight but pear-shaped, with a colonnade along the sides. Another unique sight is Fort Charlemont on a rocky bank of the Meuse. Nearby, bluish limestone was once quarried for monuments and bridges. In Givet, this stone even inspired the blue hue of a local delicacy: the Pierre bleue de Givet chocolates.

Rent a holiday home in the French Ardennes

Enjoy the unspoilt nature in peace and quiet: that’s what typically sets the French Ardennes apart when compared with its Belgian sibling. Cycle along the tightly meandering Meuse and its steep, forested banks, or slip onto the Semois River for an unforgettable canoe trip. Fantastic highlights include zip-lining over the Meuse and climbing at the TerrAltitude adventure park in Fumay. For a cosy and culinary highlight, sit beneath the arcades of Place Ducale in Charleville. Are you looking for accommodation in France close to home? Consider a relaxed outdoor holiday from a holiday home in the French Ardennes.