Autumn is here: 7 good reasons to take a few days to visit Verviers

If there's a time of year when the High Fens reveal all their character, it's autumn. The moors take on brown and copper hues, the surrounding forests are adorned with yellow, orange, and red, while a light mist sometimes envelops the landscapes. The scenery becomes almost unreal.

From Verviers, it's easy to reach the High Fens plateau and the Signal de Botrange for a few hours or for a full day hike. The famous wooden walkways allow you to cross some marshland landscapes and fully enjoy this unique nature in Belgium.

No need to be a great hiker to enjoy it. Depending on your desire, you can choose a short walk in the fresh air or plan a longer route with a picnic and several hours of walking. And after spending the day in this vastness, the return to warmth is all the more pleasant.

A few kilometers from Verviers, the lake and dam of Gileppe offer quite a different setting. Here, water mingles with vast wooded areas to create one of the most photogenic landscapes in the region.

In autumn, when the trees around the lake change color, the red, yellow, and orange reflections on the water add even more charm to the site. It's the ideal place to get some fresh air, walk at your own pace, and enjoy a particularly peaceful environment.

The more athletic can plan a longer walk around the lake, while those who prefer a leisurely outing can simply discover the dam, enjoy the views, and take a break in nature. Take the time to stop, observe the landscape, and enjoy the calm: here, you quickly forget that you are just a few kilometers from the city.

Verviers is not only discovered through its natural landscapes. The city also has a particularly rich history, closely linked to two elements that shaped its development: wool and water.

For several centuries, the textile industry structured local life and deeply marked the architecture of the city. Even today, old industrial buildings, textile machines, and various testimonies of that era allow us to trace back this past.

Rather than following a classic tour, stroll through the streets of Verviers and let the heritage reveal itself during the walk. It's an original way to understand how the city developed while alternating historical discoveries, architecture, and moments in the open air.

To enjoy autumn, there's no need to always plan a several-hour hike. A walk along the Vesdre allows you to slow down and discover Verviers from another angle.

The river accompanies a part of the city's history and today offers a pleasant guide for a walk. Along the water, urban landscapes blend with greener spaces, while the seasonal colors bring a particular atmosphere to the surroundings.

You can set off without a specific plan, walk a few kilometers, reach the center, stop for a drink, or extend your route to one of the marked trails nearby. That's also the advantage of a stay in Verviers: you can easily alternate between a large excursion in the High Fens and a much quieter walk the next day.

The High Fens for a day in the open air, Spa for a thermal break, the Gileppe dam for a stroll by the water, Theux for its charm and heritage, or the Liege Ardennes to multiply hikes: everything is within reach.

And it's particularly enjoyable in autumn when the weather can change quickly. No need to plan every minute of the stay weeks in advance. In the morning, open the curtains and choose your program: bright sun? Head to the Fens. Grey weather? Explore Verviers or enjoy a day in Spa. Just want to slow down? A walk, a good meal, and a few hours of wellness will do just fine.

This freedom makes it possible to plan each day according to your mood and to really enjoy a few days away from everyday life.

Imagine: several hours of walking in the High Fens, the fresh air, the wet paths, the autumn colors... then returning to the hotel, with only one desire: to warm up. That's when the stay takes on another dimension.

The DAO center at the Van der Valk Hotel Verviers allows you to extend the experience with a true moment of relaxation. Heated pool, jacuzzi, sauna, tylarium, and fitness area allow you to relax your muscles and take the time to recover after an active day.

You can also complement this moment with a massage or a treatment and transform a simple nature getaway into a real wellness weekend.

The Van der Valk Hotel Verviers is housed in a 19th-century railway station that has been completely redesigned. The building has retained part of its industrial character while now accommodating comfortable rooms and suites, relaxation areas, and the L’Entrepôt restaurant.

This setting gives real personality to the stay. You're not just sleeping in a hotel: you're staying in a place that is itself part of the city's history.

Between nature, heritage, gastronomy, and wellness, the Van der Valk Hotel Verviers thus becomes much more than just a stopping point: it becomes a full part of the experience.

A few days in Verviers bring together the best of autumn: long walks, colorful landscapes, gastronomy, and moments in the warmth.

And when you have explored the region, Spa and Liège are never far away to prolong the discovery of eastern Wallonia.