European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse By David Tarrant Brussels Bureau it s known As the Quot smallest City in the world Quot but it s a very big treat for travellers interested in the outdoors nestled in the Valley of the Ourthe River in the Beautiful ardennes Region of Southeast Belgium is the tiny picturesque town of Dur buy. It has Long enjoyed a great reputation among belgians As an Ideal vacation Center from which to explore the ardennes. Although no one seems to know How Dur buy got its nickname there is no disputing its size. It takes Only minutes to walk from one Side of the town to the other but Dur buy is proof Good things can come in Small packages. Shoppers will like Dur buy s boutiques and shops Selling everything from pricey fashionable suits to jars of Honey and homemade ardennes jams. For those interested in sampling the local cuisine there Are Many restaurants a some such Asle Sanglier Des ardennes Are. Expensive but offer some of the Best game dishes in the Region. Good and inexpensive grilled dishes and fresh Trout can be found at the guest House and restaurant revote. And the restaurant la Markloff located on the northeastern Edge of the town brews its own Beer which has a tangy Lively taste. Check out also the Bucherie Butcher shops where you can buy slices of ardennes Ham or sausage for snacks. A a. A a a a. A a a a a a a a a a a a a first mentioned in 1078, Dur buy was officially. Designated a town in 1331. Like the better known medieval town of Bruges in Northern Belgium Dur buy has made few changes in its original shape and town plan through the centuries. A a parts of the City Wall Are still standing. The Castle built around 1078, remains after Many transformations a its turrets rising above the City. The Small cobbled streets which wind through the town now unfortunately carry automobile traffic. But there Are sidewalks and crosswalks for the safety of pedestrians. By far the strangest Structure in town is la Halle Aux Bles or Corn Exchange. Its half timbered Structure is topped by wooden statuettes that represent madness and Wisdom. The building dates from the 14th Century and has been used for everything from a Corn warehouse to the local government seat. It now houses the tourist information office. Those interested in fresh air will hit the Jackpot Here. Starting in the town s Center dozens of Well marked biking paths fan out to the nearby wooded Hills past Lush pastureland across waterfalls and through Cool forests. Some of the paths Are Long enough seven to 10 Miles to last the Day while others can be accomplished in less than an hour. The tourist office can provide a hiking map and information a some of it in English a on guided hikes through the nearby forests. It is also possible to rent Mountain bikes and kayaks from private companies. Finally children can enjoy a Shady miniature Golf course As Well As a Little train which stops at various Scenic Points around buy will be hosting several festivals during the upcoming months. June 1-2 is the festival of Lousiana. Visitors can Sample Louisiana style cuisine in the restaurants while enjoying a weekend of jazz from the new ready Dixie band the West music the Sweet quartet group arid the shape International band. The festival of Wallonia featuring various music events is every weekend in july. On aug. 31, a carpet of Flowers is displayed in the town Square. There will also be a Market of belgian products and various entertainment events. Dur buy is in Southeastern Belgium about 20 Miles. From Liege. If driving follow a-26 out of Liege to route 86 and take 86 Southwest to Dur buy. It is about a 90-minute drive from Brussels and less than two hours from Pitburg Germany. For More information Call the Dur buy tourist office at 086-212-428 from Germany Call 0032-86-212-428 and from Holland Call 0932-86-212-428. Belgium has several other Sites in addition to the Well known cities of Brussels Antwerp and Bruges that Are easy to get to and offer plenty to see and do. A spa is the town where some of the greatest figures in world history have taken a Bath. Literally. Spa s famous hot Springs have attracted such famous persons As Peter the great and Pliny the elder a roman w to was one of the first travel writers. According to legend a medieval Blacksmith discovered its Waters and area trom the princes of Liege. In the 1 7th Century two English doctors came to spa to study the curative Powers of the town s Waters and gave the term Quot spa Quot to several Iron bearing Springs in England. The term eventually spread it throughout the English speaking world As a generic term for health resorts. Quot a. A nowadays the season generally runs trom june 1 to sept. 30, with the spas open every Day trom 10 to noon and 2-5.30 . Before june the spas Are open 25 . On weekdays and from 10 . To noon and 2-5 . On weekends. A. A a if you like spooky castles with dark dungeons secret passages and More than a thousand years of history then the Bouillon is your kind of place perched above the turbulent semis River the Bouillon dates to around 988, and is a Castle lovers and in particular those interested in medieval military fortifications. This is the Castle of Godfrey de Bouillon the most famous Duke of Bouillon who mortgaged the chateau to raise Money for the first crusade to Rescue Jerusalem in 1096. He died in the holy land after refusing the title of King of Jerusalem. Within the Castle s Walls Are various prisons a Gallows and a 250-foot Well carved into the Rock the Castle is lit by spotlights at night for 200 belgian francs about $5.75 you can walk through the Castle and see two museums including one of the world s most extensive collections of artefacts from the crusades. Bouillon is on the belgian French Border about 30 Miles West of it Luxembourg City. For further information Call the tourist office 061 -466257. A tired of the same old souvenirs looking for something with both an artistic and historical tradition take a Quick trip to Val St. Lambert near Liege and visit the famous Cristall eries. A Glass has been made in Belgium since the second Century. In the Liege Region Crystal glasses came into their own in the Early 1400s when craftsmen from Italy and Bohemia now part of Czechoslovakia settled in this tiny City in the ardennes. The Cri Tallerie was established in the Early 19th Century in the Abbey of Val St. Lambert a former monastery built in 1202. The Abbey was a disbanded after the French revolution when the monks were tossed out during the anti clerical rioting of the times. A a. A a a a a. A a a a a a a a a. A although Crystal is made from Sand Lead and potassium it is the Lead Content that gives the Crystal its sparkle. Every manufacturer has its own highly guarded recipe so the actual factory at Val St. Lambert is not open to the public., however tourists can visit the Glass blowing studio a Small museum of Glass and a boutique that Sells Val St. Lambert Crystal Quot seconds Quot which have slight but often imperceptible defects. The boutique is at Rue do val245 and is open 10 . To 5 . Tuesdays through sundays. Items which Range from paperweights at 500 belgian francs about $14 50 to multicoloured vases at 1 5,000 belgian francs Are often 40 percent less than the list Price Val St. Lambert is near the City of serving a Tew Miles Southwest of Liege. For More information on Val St Lambert at 041-370 400 a one of the biggest Rock festivals in Europe is held every it ear in the flemish towns of dorhout and Yve Uhtof near Brussels. Ibis year the festival will be july 6 in dorhout and july 7 m worthier the first edition of the turn festivals was nigam de in 1977 and has since featured some of the biggest names in music. The festival is held in Parks in both towns both Sites cover about.25 acres and can hold crowds of up to 80,000. For the line up Tor this year s festival set1 the on stage listings on pages 14-1 5 tickets Cost 1,000 belgian francs about $ 30 in Advance 1,200 at the Gate and Are already available Quot through ticket agents in get Many Belgium and the Netherlands. For information Telephone 051-581-020 to i of r i >v3 i it i a of 1 i it of of a test Quot if. A Mari i a Al $ i Fey a. Ltd a a it it 20 of a Story Avex the narrow streets Are much As they were in medieval times. T Yiyi i i i. La it a my Mem a a Koll >3 m 5 a. 1 15 a mooi5iiomwx it i a above la Halle Aux Bles which now houses the tourist office. At left a stairway Marks the Start o f a hiking Trail leading out of 23, 1991 stripes Magazine 7 7
