Best time to visit the Ardennes: autumn, winter and summer

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In autumn the forests turn golden, in winter the Durbuy Christmas market beckons and with enough snow you can go cross-country skiing at the Baraque de Fraiture, and in summer the rivers call. For each season we found out when it is best to go for what.

By Arjan Zuur · reference date 21 October 2026 · sources below

Season	Highlight	Where
Autumn	Deer rut, autumn colours, game on the menu	Saint-Hubert, La Roche, High Fens
Winter	Christmas market, snow, cross-country skiing	Durbuy, Baraque de Fraiture, High Fens
February	Cwarmê carnival	Malmedy
Summer	Kayaking until 8 pm, long walks	Ourthe, Lesse, Semois, Amblève

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🍂 Autumn: rut, game and golden forests

From mid-September to mid-October it is rutting season: then you hear the red deer bellowing in the forests (wallonie.be). In the Saint-Hubert massif in 2026, from 10 to 30 September inclusive, all paths and roads were closed from 5.30 pm to 8 am to give the animals peace; there were, however, freely accessible listening spots (Office du Tourisme Nassogne).

The hunting season lasts until the end of January. On hunting days forests may be closed: check ChasseOnWeb beforehand; the notices at the forest entrance are binding. The Ninglinspo is also closed on some hunting days.

In autumn many restaurants have game on the menu. A few examples from this season, with prices:

Where	What	Price	Source
Le Quai Son, La Roche	civet de marcassin (young wild boar stew) / pavé de biche (doe, 250 g)	€ 28 / € 34	Menu 16 October 2026
Restaurant Kokejane (Tropical Hôtel), Durbuy	Game menu: pheasant breast / roe deer or hare / partridge	€ 30 / € 45 / € 50	tropical-hotel.be
Floreal, La Roche	Game weekend with a four-course game menu, overnight stay and breakfast (weekends 16 Oct–29 Nov 2026)	€ 179 pp (1 night), € 236 pp (2 nights); child 3–11 € 92 / € 126	florealgroup.be

Retrieved 22 October 2026. At Kokejane the prices on the game menu have no year, and the dishes change with availability.

Halloween 2026

La Roche castle: 24, 30 and 31 October, 6 pm–midnight, € 24 pp (chateaudelaroche.be).
Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne: 28–31 October (chateau-lavaux.com).
Parc à Gibier La Roche: Halloween on 31 October 11 am–5 pm (parc-gibier-laroche.be).

**High Fens (Fagne Wallonne)**
Autumn colours in the Fagne Wallonne: red and golden moor grass with bare birches
Photo: Frank Vassen · CC BY 2.0 · resized and cropped · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

Autumn forest by the Ourthe near Rendeux, with a red-coloured bald cypress — **Ourthe at Rendeux**
Autumn forest on the Ourthe at Rendeux, with a bald cypress turned red
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT · CC BY 3.0 · resized and cropped · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

**Bouillon**
Autumn view of Bouillon and the bridges over the Semois
Photo: Horst J. Meuter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized and cropped · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

**High Fens (Poleûr, Malmedy)**
The Poleûr stream flows over stones through the autumn forest in the High Fens
Photo: DimiTalen · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

🎄 Winter: Christmas market and snow

In winter everything in the Ardennes revolves around Christmas markets and, with a bit of luck, snow. The Durbuy Christmas market is open longest, until 3 January 2027. If snow falls, you can go cross-country skiing at the Baraque de Fraiture and sledging and hiking in the High Fens; Reinhardstein castle has extra opening days around Christmas.

What	When (2026-2027)	Where
Christmas market	20 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 (weekends only at first)	Durbuy (VISITWallonia)
Cross-country and skiing	only with enough snow, 9 am–5 pm	Baraque de Fraiture (Vielsalm tourism)
Christmas at a castle	28–29 Nov, 5–6 and 12–13 Dec, 19 Dec – 3 Jan, 10 am–6 pm	Reinhardstein (reinhardstein.net)

The wide, snow-covered moorland of the High Fens in winter — The High Fens in the snow.
Photo: Stephane Mignon · CC BY-SA 2.0 · resized and cropped · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

👉 All about snow, cross-country skiing and winter driving: Winter in the Ardennes. All markets with dates and times: Christmas markets 2026.

🎭 February: the Malmedy Cwarmê

The oldest carnival in Belgium, with 15 traditional masks. In 2027 from Saturday 6 to Tuesday 9 February inclusive: Saturday at 9 am the opening, Sunday at 2 pm the big parade, Monday the "Rôles" (satirical scenes) and Tuesday at 7 pm the burning of the Haguète (VISITWallonia). Note: the Malmundarium is closed on carnival Sunday.

The bandstand on the Place de Rome in Malmedy
Photo: Tournasol7 · CC BY 4.0 · resized and cropped · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

☀️ Summer: rivers and long days

From 16 June to 15 October you may paddle on the main river stretches from 9.30 am to 8 pm (AGW 2009). But check Infokayak every day: in dry summers a river can be closed because there is too little water.

Freÿr: in July and August also open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (freyr.be).
La Roche castle: July and August 10 am–6 pm (according to the tourist office).
Grottes de Hotton: in July and August until 5 pm.
Villa Faro (Durbuy): heated outdoor pool from 1 May to 30 September.
La Claire Fontaine (La Roche): outdoor pool at 29 °C until 1 November.

**Waterfalls of Coo (Stavelot)**
The waterfalls of Coo near Stavelot, surrounded by trees
Photo: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized and cropped · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

**Ourthe between Durbuy and Barvaux**
Kayakers on the Ourthe between Durbuy and Barvaux, between green banks
Photo: Jean Housen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized and cropped · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

**Dinant**
The Charles de Gaulle bridge over the Meuse with the collegiate church and the citadel of Dinant
Photo: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized and cropped · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When is the deer rut in the Ardennes?

Roughly from 15 September to 15 October (wallonie.be).

When is the Durbuy Christmas market 2026?

At weekends from 20 November to 13 December and then daily from 18 December to 3 January 2027.

Can you go cross-country skiing in the Ardennes?

Yes, with enough snow, for example at the Baraque de Fraiture: trails of 3, 7, 14 and 21 km.

When is the Malmedy carnival?

From 6 to 9 February 2027 inclusive.

Until what time can you kayak in summer?

On the main stretches until 8 pm (16 June–15 October).

Seasons guide: the Ardennes in autumn, winter & summer