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An immersion into Belgian gastronomy
4 stops
4 nights
131 miles
Known as the ‘capital of Europe', Brussels represents an approach to gastronomy that's appreciative of an incredibly wide variety of culinary cultures. Travelling through the northeast of Belgium demands the finest gourmands stop at chip shops, bars, craft breweries and Michelin-starred restaurants alike. The journey continues in museums with splendid paintings of still lifes and in the unique chalet atmosphere of beautiful Christmas markets. Belgium vibrates to the rhythm of dishes that are never pretentious but often very tasty.
01
Departure
Recommended duration : 0 night
Maastricht
Several properties available for this stop
02
32 milesCar
Recommended duration : 2 nights
Sint-Truiden
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
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Hasselt Christmas Market
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting Christmas markets in Belgium, the small Hasselt market, originally created in the 2000s, has established itself as the quintessential place for all lovers of Christmas spirit, complete with wooden chalets, mulled wine and other tasty treats. On the menu: sausages, fries, hot soup and Liège waffles. With its beautiful covered ice rink, a Ferris wheel, roller coasters and some eighty concessions, the market has delightfully remained on a human scale.
During your stay
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Wilderen Brewery Tour
Wilderen was once a gigantic distillery, built in 1890, but which was abandoned for a long time. Reopening in 2011 after more than 70 years of inactivity, it is today both a prime example of the region's dynamic industrial heritage and also the ideal place to taste a Tripel Kanunnik (brewed with four kinds of cereals) or a Cuvée Clarisse, a beautiful ruby red beer with an alcohol content of more than nine per cent.
During your stay
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A tea ceremony in the Japanese Gardens of Hasselt
Twinned with the town of Itami, near Osaka, Japan, Hasselt is home to an unexpected and delightful Japanese garden, called Japanse Tuin. In the heart of this haven of tranquility, a pretty tea house regularly hosts tasting ceremonies, where tea master, Staf Daems, explains the principles behind the practice and offers a demonstration of Urasenke tea-tasting style. Best discovered between March-April, during cherry blossom season.
During your stay
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Ter Dolen Brewery Tour
Ter Dolen abbey beer has been brewed since 1994 at De Dool castle. The stables of the former summer residence of the abbots of Saint-Trond Abbey provide an amazing setting for a high-tech brasserie. The guided tour provides a fascinating introduction to brewing, the manufacturing process and the bottling of the five craft beers produced on site, with–of course–the possibility of tasting them at the end of the visit.
03
40 milesCar
Recommended duration : 1 night
Brussels
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Culinary tourism has developed enormously in the Belgian capital in recent years. Young chefs and new restaurants have progressively reinvented classic dishes including cervelas sausages, chicory au gratin, vol-au-vents or shrimp croquettes. Every fall, the Eat Festival brings together around sixty chefs in the city for four days, to the delight of gourmands...
Things to do, see, and discover
On the road
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Le Chalet de la Forêt
On the edge of the beautiful Sonian forest, renowned Chef Pascal Devalkeneer achieves the perfect balance between traditional and avant-garde concepts. This talented chef's cuisine is well-thought out and beautifully executed. Delectable Per Se caviar and broccoli flowers, Parmentier style, enhance the special Gillardeau oyster tartar. Savour his creative dishes in a contemporary and warm setting or on the terrace, with its fragrance of aromatic herbs, a heavenly environment for your ‘al fresco' dinner. The knowledgeable sommelier presents wine from both French vineyards and further afield that is in harmony with the gourmet offerings.
04
61 milesCar
Recommended duration : 1 night
Bruges
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