Wallonia is the French-speaking, southern half Belgium comprehensive part of the country. It has a population of around 3.5 million and an area of 16,844 km². Wallonia is part of the European Greater Region, the Luxembourg, Lorraine (French Lorraine), Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and Wallonia includes. The German-speaking communities that came to Belgium after the First World War are now also part of Wallonia.
Regions
Provinces
places
In the German-speaking part of the country
In the French-speaking part of the country
The following are particularly worth seeing:
Other goals
- Our valley in the border triangle with Germany and Luxembourg
- River landscape on the Meuse (the Belgian section is mainly part of Wallonia).
- The Han Grottoes and the Rochefort grotto
- The boat lifts on Canal du Center - rated by UNESCO as industrial monuments of the highest quality.
background
In contrast to Flanders, Wallonia offers a hilly low mountain range. Most of the low mountain range is one of the Ardennes.
The letter W is rare in the French language. The word Wallonia is related to the word vallée (dt valley).
language
The official language in almost all areas is French. German is the official language in East Belgium and in the eastern canton (around Eupen and St. Vith). In a few places on the border with Flanders, Dutch is also allowed as a minority language. Foreign language skills are usually not widespread except in Walloon Brabant, so rudimentary knowledge of French is helpful. Unfortunately, you often don't get too far with these either, since many Walloons have the difficult to understand Walloon language speak. However, the written language is always French.
getting there
From Germany, depending on the region of origin, either the 
from Cologne towards Eupen and Liege or from Koblenz die 
/
to Sankt-Vith. If you come from Saarland, the best way to travel is via Luxembourg to Arel (Arlon) and from there via the 
in the Ardennes.
mobility
Drive
The roads in Wallonia are well developed and have little traffic. Since there are hardly any bypasses, even the national roads lead through the pretty villages.
Entrance signs are relatively small and not very noticeable with black lettering on a white background. It is advisable to look carefully for the relevant signs when approaching a built-up area. Usually, a speed limit of 50 km / h applies in built-up areas: a sign often shows a speed limit of 70 km / h. In schools or kindergartens, the speed is almost always limited to 30 km / h. These signs are also often difficult to recognize because they are also small in size and often hung very high on top of that.
The prices for gasoline are slightly higher than in Germany. The price of diesel fuel in Belgium is higher than that of premium gasoline and is therefore considerably more expensive than in Germany. (As of 06/2020)
To go biking
Information about cycling and routes can be found here:
Tourist Attractions
Wallonia offers a multitude of attractions.
The low mountain range, often with dense forest, is varied. In the south-eastern part, i.e. west of Spa and south of Eupen, there is the High Fens (Hautes Fagnes in French), in which large areas are formed as raised bogs.
The cities offer different cultural treasures to varying degrees that are worth visiting. The provinces of Namur and Hainaut are typical of the region Belfries, bell towers erected between the 11th and 17th centuries by a self-confident urban bourgeoisie, which can be seen from afar and indicate urban freedom and prosperity. The best examples are those of the town halls of Binche and Charleroi and the free-standing belfries of the cities of Mons, Thuin, Tournai, Namur and Gebioux. These belfries are also part of the cross-border world heritage "Belfries in the historical regions of Flanders, Artois, Hainaut and Picardy".
activities
Day trip by car
An excursion tip to get to know eastern Wallonia is a drive on the N68 from Aachen via Eupen, Malmedy, Stavelot, Trois-Ponts and Vielsam to the Luxembourg border near Wemperhardt, where you can fill up your fuel tank cheaply. In addition to enchanting, well-kept small towns, there is a lot of landscape (High Fens!), Numerous castles and river valleys to admire. The way back to the Cologne-Bonn area or the Ruhr area then leads through the Eifel.
Water hiking
- The Ourthe is a river that is ideal for rafting and water hiking.
hike
- all cycle paths are also suitable for hiking, although the poorly developed pre-RAVeL paths are perhaps the more interesting.
- The Via Gulia leads through the Göhl valley from Lichtenbusch to Meerssen (NL), where the Göhl flows into the Meuse.
- the French network of Grandes Randonnées also includes Wallonia. The GR 5 leads over from the Netherlands spa, Vielsalm and Reuland to Luxembourg.
kitchen
- In the Fritures you get different snacks. The thick, very hot fried (French) fries are very well known. The Liège meatloafs (boulets à la liégeoise, boulettes liégeoises) are a little less well known, but they are just as easy to get.
- "Sirop de Liége", a syrup made from apples and pears, is served for breakfast.
- Tarte au Riz (Belgian rice cake) -> The recipe can be found here in the Koch-Wiki.
nightlife
security
Crime is slightly higher in the industrial area of Liège, otherwise Wallonia is very safe.
respect
Despite its declared neutrality, Belgium was invaded and occupied twice by Germany in the 20th century. Wallonia was particularly hard hit in each case. This still shapes the image of Germany to a certain extent today.
During the First World War, the area along the border with France in particular was the immediate frontline area (battles of Flanders, catchphrase: Langemarck), entire landscapes and numerous cities were devastated. The respective areas are littered with military cemeteries. German troops raged terribly among the civilian population and the Dinant and Battice massacres are still vividly remembered.
The Second World War once again brought suffering and destruction to the country; especially in connection with the Battle of the Bulge and in the last months of the war. And again there were massacres of the civilian population, e.g. by SS troops in Stavelot. These events are also still present everywhere with memorials and memorials.
As a consequence, this gloomy prehistory shows that German visitors generally show clear restraint and treat everyone with respect. With the memorials, e.g. in Dinant or Stavelot, a certain humility is absolutely appropriate.
climate
A little more maritime than in Germany, although the differences are very small.
literature
- Jens M. Warnsloh: Via Gulia - Göhltalroute: From Lichtenbusch to the Maas, Meyer & Meyer Sport, ISBN 3898997278
