🇧🇪Belgium · Places to discover
What to see in Malmedy?
14 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Malmedy occupies a distinctive position within Belgium's Eastern Cantons: a French-speaking town enclosed in a historically German-speaking region, it changed nationality several times before 1920. This identity ambiguity has forged its own character, visible in its mixed architecture and the Cwarmê carnival, one of Wallonia's oldest, which structures local life far beyond its four days of festivities.
The town is best visited between May and September, two days being enough to explore the cathedral Saints-Pierre-Paul-et-Quirin and venture into the nearby Hautes Fagnes. A car helps for nearby trails, though the centre walks easily enough. Avoid February weekends unless booked well ahead: the Cwarmê saturates accommodation within a twenty-kilometre radius.
Landmarks & heritage
3 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5Landmark
Baugnez Massacre Memorial
Sober and poignant memorial commemorating the massacre of American soldiers by the SS in December 1944. An essential place of remembrance for understanding the history of the Battle of the Bulge.
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Landmark
Landmark
Former Malmedy Tannery
Industrial remnant from the town's leather-working past; Malmedy was long renowned for its leather. The rehabilitated buildings echo this vanished economic identity.
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Landmark
Landmark
Place Albert Ier
Historic heart of Malmedy, surrounded by typical Ardennes façades. This is where the city's pulse beats, with the weekly market and carnival festivities.
Museums
4 places
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
Malmedy Historical Museum
Housed in an 18th-century building, it traces the town's history from medieval times through to reintegration into Belgium after 1918. Rich in documents and local objects.
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Museum
Museum
Bookshop-Gallery Le Grenier aux Livres
Independent bookshop and art gallery run by an enthusiast, specialising in Ardennes and regional literature. A valuable cultural hub in a city of this size.
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Museum
Museum
Malmedy Carnival Museum
The Cwarmê of Malmedy is one of Wallonia's oldest carnivals. This museum traces the history of the Haguètes, these emblematic masked characters, with rare costumes and archives.
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Museum
Museum
Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Museum
Museum tracing the circuit's history since its creation in 1921, with historic racing cars and rare archives. A must for any motorsport enthusiast.
Religious sites
2 places
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Religious site
Cathedral of Saints Peter, Paul and Quirin in Malmedy
A former Benedictine abbey founded in the seventh century, now a cathedral. Its Baroque bell tower dominates the town and houses the relics of Saint Quirin, venerated since the Middle Ages.
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Religious site
Religious site
Notre-Dame de Chèvremont Chapel (Malmedy)
Small chapel nestled on wooded heights overlooking the town, accessible on foot via a forest path. Clear view over the roofs of Malmedy and the surrounding hills.
Nature
2 places
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Nature
Nature
Warche Valley – Sentier des Moulins
Walk along the Warche through beech forests and former mills. The rushing water, moss-covered rocks and peaceful setting make this one of the region's most beautiful trails.
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Nature
Nature
Hautes Fagnes – Baraque Michel Nature Reserve
Belgium's largest protected natural space, near Malmedy. Thousand-year-old peatlands, heathland and mysterious mists – wild and unspoilt nature that takes your breath away.
Activities
1 place
12Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Activity
Cross-country Skiing – High Fens Domain
In winter, the High Fens transform into a cross-country skiing paradise with more than 60 km of marked trails. One of Belgium's rare destinations for this sport in open countryside.
More to discover
2 places
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Place
Place
Cwarmê – Malmedy Carnival
Recognised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, this four-day carnival in February transforms the city. The Haguètes in oilcloth costumes and feathered hats are unique in the world.
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Place
Place
Malmedy Weekly Market
Every Friday morning, Albert I Square comes alive with local producers: cheeses, Ardennes charcuterie, honey, seasonal vegetables. The best place to feel the pulse of the town.
Also 🇧🇪 in Belgium
