Uncover the hidden treasures of the Hautes Fagnes (High Fens) by immersing yourself in its sounds!
To ease the tourist influx in parts of the Hautes Fagnes – the high plateau that stretches north of Malmédy up as far as Eupen – an innovative campaign is being launched across train stations and social media in Belgium. It aims to highlight the lesser-known but equally stunning parts of the region using authentic sound recordings: the whispering wind, melodious birds, bustling small animals, and even the serene silence.
Walloon artist Olvo (Nicolas Allard) has created four unique sound walks, blending natural sounds with atmospheric music to enhance the experience.
The aim is to showcase the Hautes Fagnes from a fresh perspective, encouraging day tourists and loyal hikers to explore the often-overlooked yet magnificent sites beyond the highly popular Mont Rigi, Baraque Michel, and Botrange. By doing so, it should reduce over-crowding at these popular spots and offer visitors a chance to embrace the tranquility and beauty of the region by venturing a few extra kilometers.
During his time on the plateau, Nicolas Allard captured a symphony of nature – silence, wind, birds, and the rich biodiversity. He then crafted these recordings into audio files along with atmospheric music, allowing potential visitors to experience the serene ambiance of the Hautes Fagnes from the comfort of their homes.
“When visitors finally arrive, they’ll find themselves saying, ‘I’ve heard this before’, and then they’ll get to experience the magic of the Hautes Fagnes in person,” explains Nicolas.
Interested? Check out the Hautes Fagnes sound walks. Or see and hear Nicolas Allard in action in this short video:
Where to stay in the Hautes Fagnes
The possibilities are endless as it’s a rich tourist area with all sorts of accommodation, but some of the best rated hotels in the area include Le Mont Rigi, Sleepwood Hotel, Hotel Lindenhof, RAVel Hotel Cyrano, Hôtel l’Ecrin d’Ô, Hotel Eifelland, Hostellerie de la Chapelle, and Dépendance Maison Géron. However, other places can be found, and you might find this link useful:
Subscribe to the Waals Weekblad
If you are Dutch-speaking you may be interested in the Waals Weekblad, which is a very interesting and useful weekly summary of news in Wallonia in the Dutch language. I actually discovered this news item about the Hautes Fagnes sound walks in the Waals Weekblad. To subscribe (20 EUR per year), send an email to redactie@waalsweekblad.be
I created Discovering Belgium in 2011 to share the country’s hidden stories, fascinating places, and remarkable people. Through articles, photography, and audio walks, I share discoveries that reveal Belgium beyond the obvious. Hope you enjoy this site.
I can understand the desire to spread the visitor numbers. We recently completed a Baltic Sea cruise and I have never seen so many people as in each of the destinations we visited. It was incredible and also a little off putting.
In Spain there is increasing resistance and even demonstrations from locals to the appearance of hordes of tourists in their cities.
Another interesting alternative for experiencing vast natural landscapes.
Hej Denzil – do you happen to have a list of books you’ve recommended over the years? I’ve read 3 you wrote about so far and totally loved them. Bob C
Do you mean books only related to Belgium or other books such as history books that I mention?
Other books as well as stories about Belgium. I read one about Antarctica exploration and two about WWI.
I am sending you a list by email Bob!