Though it claims to be the smallest city in the world, Durbuy is big on charm, boasting a medieval castle, upscale restaurants and megalithic natural surroundings. A satire song about it, ‘J’aime Durbuy’, extolled the tiny city’s quaint cobblestoned streets and medieval heritage, and proved almost as popular as the original. In fact, Durbuy is very easy to love.

Barely known even among Belgians, Ronse in Flanders near the linguistic border is the “queen of the Flemish Ardennes.” It boasts the largest medieval crypt in western Europe; a veritable exorcist; relics from the town’s patron St. Hermes; and the remains of a textile industry, including repurposed factories and Art Deco houses. Every year since 1090, locals do The Fiertel Procession, a 32.6K walk around the town with the shrine of St. Hermes.

Often overlooked, the German-Speaking Community of Belgium is a linguistic area within the francophone Wallonia region that has its own parliament, flag and fascinating history. It represents 3% of the country’s geography and just 0.7% of its population (nearly 80,000). Yet it has practically the same legal status as the French and Flemish communities thanks to smart politicking in the 1960s when Belgium divided linguistically.

Mons boasts UNESCO sites and events, military history, buildings and street art, and one-of-a-kind museums for a weekend of intrigue. This picturesque city on a hill in the heart of Wallonia, Belgium owes its name to its hilly terrain. In fact, its name was derived from the Latin word ‘montes’, for mountains. This lofty title is fitting for the capital of Belgium’s province of Hainaut, a city deemed the European Capital of Culture in 2015.