Boasting several thousand hectares of greenery, golf is the ultimate outdoor sport. There are no fewer than 38 golf courses to choose from all over Wallonia. To round off this wonderful time out on the green, there's nothing like spending a night or two in highly original accommodation. In a bubble for lovers, a chalet on stilts or a cabin perched in the middle of the woods for the whole family. Precious moments close to nature, but in such cosy way that you won't easily forget it. Everything is possible in Wallonia.
Playing golf in Wallonia means immersing yourself in an exceptional landscape, as each course is in a sumptuous green setting. So you can take full advantage of nature's peace and quiet. It's wonderful! In this rare opponent-free sport, it's all about nature, the ball and you. We can refocus and our incessant, intrusive thoughts all disappear as if by magic. We stroll through the heart of nature, and this gentle, balancing physical activity does us a world of good. Golf is good for your health.
It is a soothing sport, played right in the heart of nature, and it lets you reconnect with yourself and forget the stress and worries of everyday life. According to one study, golf can prevent more than 40 diseases and reduce cardiovascular risk. It keeps your mind working, it channels energies and strengthens your concentration and memory. Even though you play without an opponent, you can, of course, play with friends, your children or your grandchildren. It's always a pleasure.
According to the Belgian Golf Association, golf in Wallonia means 38 courses, more than 2,300 hectares, 50% grass areas prepared just for the game and 50% natural environments that are part of Wallonia's natural heritage (meadows, forests, massifs, moors, hedges, lakes, rivers, etc.). Golf and the natural environment go hand in hand. And there's no shortage of unspoilt nature in Wallonia. Golf is, in fact, increasingly valued and acknowledged thanks to its role in preserving nature and biodiversity and because of its limited use of natural resources such as water, energy and equipment.
Some golf courses in Wallonia are particularly committed to protecting the environment and biodiversity. These include Golf Club de Naxhelet at Wanze in the province of Liège, Royal Waterloo Golf Club in Walloon Brabant, Royal Golf Club du Hainaut and Florennes Avia Golf Club in the province of Namur, to name but a few.
Le Chant des Etoiles, a bubble of real joy
After sport, comfort! Do you ever dream of a gentler world? One bubble, just one, will bring back your childhood memories, and you will rediscover a night under the stars in the safety of your own cocoon. This bubble has landed in the Ardennes, on the heights of Spa. A 180-degree view embraces the spa town and the beginning of the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve, while silence reigns on the wooded property. This is a rare sensorial experience, an intimate place well out of sight. An organic breakfast and packed lunches, wellness, massages, an in-home spa, sauna and hammam in your private bathroom... and peace and quiet. We like to take care of our guests here; the bubble is unique and you are all alone. Alone in the whole world - or almost.
AquaLodge, luxurious chalets on stilts
If nothing soothes you more than the sight of calm water, and if you like original, timeless breaks with your couple, then head for the Molignée valley in the province of Namur. Down a small private country road, you reach an unspoilt estate and discover a huge natural pond, also privately owned, around which are built eight luxurious chalets on stilts. Each has its own name: the Songe des Etangs, the Rêve du Nénuphar, the Balade du Cygne ... The cottages are well separated from each other, ensuring your privacy.
For those who prefer terra firma, the ninth accommodation - a trailer - is waiting for them just a little further back. Each unit is luxuriously decorated in mountain style. Wood and fur create a warm, cocooning atmosphere all round. You will soon find out what the Danish hygge means, and how to live it. Each chalet has a beautiful outdoor terrace, ideal for breakfast in the morning or an aperitif later on, with the calm of the water and birdsong in the background. If you'd like to get away from it all and explore the surrounding area, you can rent a bike for a ride. What's more, the region is overflowing with unique sites, such as Maredsous Abbey, Wallonia's second most visited site after Pairi Daiza, and other delightful nuggets.
Mon lit dans l’arbre (My bed up in a tree), reconnecting with nature
If there's nothing like the presence of trees to help you forget everyday life and recharge your batteries, then you're in for a treat in the south of Wallonia. Among villages, woods and rivers, you'll feel the call of the forest, in simplicity and respect for nature and human beings. Close to the winding Semois, near Florenville and Bouillon... Just outside the charming village of Martilly, in the municipality of Herbeumont, a three-hectare site with a landscape of forests, meadows and the Vierre, that enchanting little river that meanders into the Semois, are seven cabins perched in a welcoming oak forest.
Some are specially designed for couples, others for families or groups. Spaced out as far as possible to preserve your peace and quiet, these playful, poetic and aesthetically pleasing cabins, each different from the next, give you a sense of calm and a degree of isolation. The cabins, accessible all year round, all have a wood-burning stove for a cocooning atmosphere and to make you feel far away from the outside world. This is a real invitation to breathe deeply, to take the time to see and look around, to observe the flora and fauna, to connect with the forest... On the edge of long-distance hiking trails and signposted walks. Nearby, a Natura 2000 site provides a great opportunity to discover an exceptional biotope.
My bed up in a tree is the fruit of a cooperative of around a hundred members, "Au Pré de mon arbre", who support and finance the construction of the tree houses and bring the project to life. The cooperative is also supported by the Brasero plan set up by Wallonia, which enables cooperators to put their values into action, create lasting links with local partners (builders, craftsmen, artists) and provide visitors with healthy, local, organic and fairtrade food. This is a friendly, simple and natural outing for couples, families or groups.
Jacqueline Remits
