🇧🇪 Belgium · Places to discover
What to see in Eupen ?
22 places curated by Hozy - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities. Click to discover each address in detail.
Eupen is the capital of Belgium's German-speaking Community, an administrative particularity that gives it distinct character: German is spoken here, Belgian beer is drunk, and the Marktplatz architecture recalls Rhineland towns without ever copying Germany proper. The town pulses to the rhythm of its carnival, one of the country's oldest and most serious, and its historic textile industry that shaped the bourgeois houses along the Vesdre.
Spring and autumn offer the best conditions for exploring the region, particularly the nearby Hautes Fagnes Nature Park trails. Two days suffices to grasp the essentials. It's easily reached by train from Liège, then navigated on foot in the compact centre. Don't reduce Eupen to a mere waypoint towards the Fagnes: the town merits lingering for its own sake, not simply as a jumping-off point.
Landmarks & heritage (8)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Former Capuchin Convent of Eupen
A 17th-century convent complex partially preserved and integrated into the historic town centre fabric. The enclosure walls and surviving chapel bear witness to this textile town's intense religious past.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Calvary Chapel, Eupen
18th-century chapel perched on the wooded hill above town, accessible via a shaded Stations of the Cross path. The view from the parvis over the Vesdre valley and Eupen's rooftops well rewards the climb.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Basilica of Saint-Nicolas, Eupen
Imposing 18th-century Baroque church dominating the old town, with a classical façade and richly decorated interior. The bell tower offers a clear view over the roofs of Eupen and the Ardennes hills.
Landmark
Museum of the German-speaking Community (Parlamentsgebäude)
The parliament of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, Europe's smallest recognised linguistic community, offers unique educational guided tours. Understanding how 78,000 German speakers manage their cultural autonomy is fascinating.
Landmark
Church of Saint Mary, Eupen (Marienkirche)
A 19th-century neo-Gothic church in the Bergstraße quarter, featuring remarkable coloured stained glass and exceptional acoustics. Summer organ concerts attract music enthusiasts from across the region.
Landmark
Museum of the City of Eupen (Stadtmuseum)
Small local museum housed in a fine bourgeois residence, chronicling Eupen's textile and industrial history and its unique German-speaking identity in Belgium. Essential for understanding why this city is so different from the rest of Wallonia.
Landmark
Klötzerbahn – Upper Old Town of Eupen
Historic paved shopping street connecting the market square to the old quarters, lined with half-timbered houses and 18th-century façades. This is where you best feel Eupen's distinctive Germanic-Walloon character.
Landmark
Rathaus Eupen (Town Hall)
Neo-classical building from the 19th century at the heart of Rathausplatz, seat of the German-speaking Community of Belgium. Its bustling square is the true living room of the town, especially during weekly markets.
Nature & parks (7)
Wikipedia (de) - CC BY-SANature
Hertogenwald Estate
A vast state forest spanning over 4,000 hectares on the outskirts of Eupen, crisscrossed with mountain bike trails and equestrian paths. In autumn, the colours of the beech and spruce forests create scenes worthy of Germanic woodlands.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANature
Vesdre Bridge – Riverside Promenade
Promenade along the Vesdre running through the heart of Eupen, with old stone bridges and verdant banks. A popular leisurely route for residents between the town centre and residential quarters.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANature
Barrage de la Gileppe
Spectacular reservoir lake a few kilometres from Verviers, guarded by a monumental stone lion. The circuit around the lake (14 km) is a classic family hike for Verviers residents at weekends.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANature
Polleur Bog Nature Reserve
Active peatland and birch forest a few kilometres from Eupen, traversed by wooden boardwalks. A wild, unspoilt corner where you easily spot grey herons and black woodpeckers away from tourist trails.
Nature
Kettenis Fishing Pond
Tranquil body of water in the village of Kettenis, 3 km from Eupen, surrounded by meadows and weeping willows. Local fishermen gather here at dawn, but it is also a peaceful picnic spot popular with families.
Nature
Vesdre Valley Trail – Eupen–Nispert Section
A walk along the Vesdre from Eupen town centre to the hamlet of Nispert, passing through wetland meadows and riparian woodland. A 6 km round-trip route popular with local families at weekends.
Nature
Vesdre Dam (Talsperre Eupen)
Belgium's largest dam holding 25 million cubic metres of drinking water in the heart of the High Fens. The lake circuit (approximately 14 km) is a local classic for weekend walkers and runners.
Viewpoints (2)
Viewpoint
Weserberg Viewpoint
A wooded hill east of Eupen offering a 180-degree panorama of the town, dam and the first ridges of the High Fens. Accessible on foot from the town centre in 20 minutes, it is the preferred spot for local photographers at sunrise.
Viewpoint
Judenkirchstraße Viewpoint
One of the least-known viewpoints over the Vesdre valley and surrounding hills, accessible on foot from the town centre in 10 minutes. Locals come here at sunset to enjoy the golden light on the rooftops.
Activities (4)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAActivity
High Fagnes Nature Centre (Haus Ternell)
Interpretation centre for peatland ecosystems, with permanent exhibitions on fauna, flora and geology of the High Fagnes. An ideal starting point before hiking to understand what you will see.
Wikipedia (de) - CC BY-SAActivity
Eupener Brewery (Eupen Brauerei)
One of the region's oldest active breweries, producing the famous Eupen Pils and a few seasonal beers in the true Germanic tradition. The guided tour followed by a cellar tasting is a must for any beer enthusiast.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAActivity
Geological Trail of Gileppe Dam
Dam nearby (15 km from Eupen) with a themed trail explaining Ardennes geology, crowned by a monumental stone lion. The view from the dam's crest over the artificial lake and forest is spectacular.
Activity
Rathausplatz Weekly Market
Saturday morning market on Town Hall Square bringing together local producers, cheese-makers and bakers from the German-speaking region. This is where you find authentic artisan rye bread and Ardennes cheeses you won't find elsewhere.