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This ancient town in Belgium's Wallonia region sits in a sharp bend of the Semois River. Crowning the community is the 10th-century Bouillon Castle, one of the country's great medieval landmarks.
The popular West Flanders coastal town of De Haan is noted for its beautiful Belle Époque-era architecture. Its most famous resident was Albert Einstein, who sought sanctuary here after fleeing Nazi Germany in 1933. The dune forests behind the resort provide a habitat for a wealth of wildlife.
Crupet Castle, a medieval moated and fortified farmhouse, is one of the the visual highlights of a visit to this Wallonia village. The other is the Grotto of St Anthony of Padua.
Located in Belgium's Wallonia region, Durbury is blessed with storybook looks, its collection of church spires and castle turrets lending the location a suitably medieval air. In 1331, Durbuy was elevated to city status and is often dubbed the "smallest city in the world."
Veurne in West Flanders is built around a picturesque square, the focus of the Old Town. Lining this marketplace are several Renaissance-style buildings of exceptional architectural merit, among them the town hall and belfry, recognized by UNESCO as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France World Heritage Site.
One of the most beautiful little towns in Belgium (indeed, Europe), Dinant is simply charming. Set on the banks of the Meuse River in the Ardennes, the destination is famed for its landmark collegiate church and fortified citadel.
Malmedy in Wallonia was founded in 648. Its scenic charm is apparent in the cluster of historic buildings set in and around the Old Town, including a 7th-century abbey and an impressive cathedral. On a darker note, the town is remembered as the location of the Malmedy Massacre, the execution by Nazi SS troops of 84 American prisoners of war on December 17, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.
The West Flanders town of Damme is just 6 km (3.5 mi) northeast of Bruges and makes for a delightful day-trip excursion. Damme is set along the treelined and picturesque Damse Vaart canal, with the odd windmill lending typical lowland character.
Motorsport fans will recognize this pleasant Wallonian town for its Grand Prix race circuit. Others, however, motor here for the natural spring waters that have placed Spa on the world well-being map.
Torgny is the southernmost place in Belgium, located in the Gaume region. Its unique microclimate lends this fairy-tale village all the right conditions for wine growing. In fact, Torgny is the center of the country's modest wine industry, with the Poirier du Loup communal vineyard managed by 40 volunteers.
Synonymous with one of the most famous battles in world history, Waterloo in Belgium's Walloon Brabant province is an historic town noted for its 19th-century character, with several buildings still standing as they would have when Napoleon and Wellington faced off on June 18, 1815.
Less than 500 people live in Oud-Rekem, considered one of the most authentic villages in Belgium. In fact, this Flanders destination is protected as a state monument for its 16th- and 17th-century character. One of the oldest buildings is the church of St Pieter's, consecrated in 1722 and which today serves as a village museum, concert hall, and tourist office.
The quaint Wallonia village of Celles is distinguished by the 15th-century Château de Vêves, landmarked by three witch hat turrets.
Located in Wallonia, the busy town of Ath is known as the "City of Giants" for the Ducasse d'Ath festivities that take place every year on the fourth weekend in August. Huge figures representing Samson and Goliath, and other allegoric figures, are paraded through the cobbled streets in a scene that has earned the festival recognition by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Its bucolic setting deep in Belgium's province of Luxembourg has made Chassepierre one of the country's most charming pastoral destinations. The village is bounded on the south by the French border.
The quiet, unassuming village of Clermont-sur-Berwinne in Wallonia hides several architectural gems, including a former town hall building replete with turret, and an amazing church that stands on foundations dating back to 1567.
Membre is a delightful village nestled in the verdant Semois Valley, in Namur province. This is prime hiking territory, and Membre, together with other villages like Laforêt and Alle, is well set up to offer visitors an assortment of accommodation options.
Laforêt is little explored. But therein lies the appeal of this picturesque Ardennes village. Surrounded by woodland through which snake a number of hiking trails, Laforêt makes for a perfect countryside getaway.
Peaceful Vierves-sur-Viroin in Wallonia was once the seat of a series of witch trials that took place throughout the 16th and 17th centuries in the castle that once stood in the center of the village. Ravaged by fire in 1775, remnants of the stronghold still remain.
Falaën in Namur province also boasts a castle of sorts. The village is the location of what's left of the 14th-centuy Montaigle Castle, destroyed by Henry II of France in 1554. You'll also find in Falaën a château-ferme, or fortified farmhouse.
The tiny and ornate Chapel of Our Lady of Oudenberg is a small pilgrimage chapel crowning the top of the Oudenberg, a witness hill in the Flemish Ardennes town of Geraardsbergen.
The small village of Rijkhoven in Limburg province has one big attraction: Alden Biesen Castle. The 16th-century building is today used as a cultural center and conference center.
The Wallonian village of Nobressart is set near the source of the Attert River, which flows through Belgium and Luxembourg. This is one of the region's prettiest villages and lies well under the tourist radar.
Belgium may be one of Europe's smallest nations, but what it lacks in area it makes up for with an enviable collection of visitor attractions. Among these are some beautiful and historic towns and villages. Several of these destinations are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, rewarded as such for their cultural significance. Belgium saw Napoleon defeated at Waterloo, and witnessed some of the bloodiest conflicts of the First and Second World Wars. Wander through this land and you'll be reminded of the many communities that ended up on the frontlines. Indeed, sightseeing this nation brings you into contact with out-of-the-way places renowned not just for their charming character, but for an association with some of history's darkest days. Intrigued?
Click through and discover Belgium's popular and lesser-known towns and villages.
Borgloon is a city and a municipality in Limburg province, but makes this list for one very famous art project installation—the amazing steel see-through church by the Gijs Van Vaerenbergh partnership called 'Reading Between the Lines' that stands in the countryside outside the city limits.
Arguably the most visually appealing of all the nation's countryside town destinations, La Roche-en-Ardenne is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Ardennes.
No visit to Belgium is complete without exploring Ypres. This West Flanders destination is in fact a city, but its association with one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War makes it a compelling destination on any itinerary. Ypres' historic town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Of course no trip to Waterloo is complete without visiting the battlefield. The Lion's Mound is a monument to the casualties of the bloody and decisive encounter. Visitors can climb the 226 steps to the top of the hill for a panoramic vista of where the action took place.
Set near the village of Zonnebeke is Tyne Cot Cemetery, the burial ground for the dead of the First World War in the Ypres Salient on the Western Front. It is the largest cemetery for Commonwealth forces in the world, for any war. The nearby village of Passchendaele should also be visited as the site of another infamous Great War battlefield.
On the outskirts of Mesen, Belgium's smallest town, stands the Island of Ireland Peace Park, a war memorial to the soldiers of Ireland who died, were wounded, or are missing from the First World War.
Sources: (The National WWII Museum) (History) (Commonwealth War Graves Commission)
See also: Dark tourism: following a gruesome travel itinerary
Beautiful towns and villages in Belgium
The prettiest places to visit in one of Europe's smallest nations
TRAVEL Europe
Belgium may be one of Europe's smallest nations, but what it lacks in area it makes up for with an enviable collection of visitor attractions. Among these are some beautiful and historic towns and villages. Several of these destinations are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, rewarded as such for their cultural significance. Belgium saw Napoleon defeated at Waterloo, and witnessed some of the bloodiest conflicts of the First and Second World Wars. Wander through this land and you'll be reminded of the many communities that ended up on the frontlines. Indeed, sightseeing this nation brings you into contact with out-of-the-way places renowned not just for their charming character, but for an association with some of history's darkest days. Intrigued?
Click through and discover Belgium's popular and lesser-known towns and villages.