The best traffic-free bike rides around Amay

Nice walk

A new fish ladder – the largest in Wallonia! – a veritable artificial river, allows aquatic wildlife to bypass the dam. The footbridge connecting the municipalities of Amay and Huy has been replaced and extended to span the main road. More information: https://construirelawallonie.be/nouvelles/le-site-eclusier-dampsin-neuville-est-equipe-de-la-plus-longue-passe-a-poissons-de-wallonie/

The gravel pit is a very rich site for photo enthusiasts or for walkers who wish to walk on maintained paths and observe birds in complete tranquility. Site recommended for walkers and photographers. Please, can you respect the rules such as keeping your dog on a leash (even if some people think they won't do any harm by letting their dog off the leash, know that you have animals with predator instincts which could scare away some species of birds that nest on the ground, like the kingfisher) and not swimming so as not to disturb the birds that are there. Thank you to all those who will respect the rules and I wish you a good hike or a good photo outing 🙏.

The current castle ensemble is largely 16th century, but was built around a 14th-century square keep. The location of that keep was, of course, strategically chosen: slightly elevated above the surroundings, this point offers a good view. The original military architecture gave way in the 16th century to a balanced combination of defense and residential comfort. In addition to the main building, the domain includes a farm, a barn, and several outbuildings, which together form a coherent whole. All these constructions are built from locally quarried limestone rubble, while carefully dressed limestone was used for lintels, sills, door frames, and window frames. This choice of materials testifies to the craftsmanship and the prosperity of the owners during that period. The oldest known lord associated with Famelette is Thiry Lardinois de Famelette, lord of Moha, indicating the close ties between the domain and the local feudal power structures. In 1441, the castle passed into the hands of Collar de Hosden, who held the office of bailiff of Moha. His function as a representative of the lordly authority underscores the administrative importance of Famelette within the region. A decisive phase in the castle's history began in 1558, when it was acquired by the Berlaymont de Floyon family, an influential noble dynasty in the Southern Netherlands. Under their rule, the domain underwent two thorough renovations, during which the existing medieval structures were expanded and embellished. The Berlaymont de Floyon family remained owners of the castle until the early 19th century, an era marked by profound political and social changes, including the consequences of the French Revolution. Famelette subsequently came into the hands of the noble Aspremont Lynden family, who sold the domain in 1878 to the Collinet family (owners of Carmeuse, the quarries). Source: www.burchten-kastelen.be

Excavations are conducted year-round at Moha Castle, making it unique in Belgium. When I visited, two archaeologists were uncovering a wall that runs beneath the visible castle and likely dates back to the 12th century.

The castle is free to visit. At the foot of the rock, there's a visitor center where you can pick up a badge to open the gate. For €4, you can also get a brochure with information about the most important points. The castle is only open to visitors starting in April, but the friendly man at the visitor center let me in on February 27th... as far as you can even call it "inside" at this ruin ;-)

Please note that the second part of the walk is inaccessible due to the quarry expansion. There are no signs indicating the direction of travel. A sign from the town indicates the change in the local road where you rejoin the trail. Information should be provided at each end to avoid unnecessary backtracking.

Former Cistercian abbey dating back to 1244. A beautiful circular courtyard with lodgings, a farmhouse, a watermill, and a lovely chapel. Now state-owned, it serves a variety of purposes. It houses the Cultural Heritage Department and the Hesbaye-Meuse Tourist Office. There are also reception rooms, a restaurant, and a museum dedicated to Cistercian life.