The best walks and hikes around Verlaine

One of Liège's most beautiful castles, originating in the 11th century, completely surrounded by a moat. Striking are the checkerboard facades in limestone and brown sandstone and the pepper-pot-like turrets. Various owners succeeded one another over the centuries. For two centuries (16th-17th century), it was owned by the powerful de Merode family, who gave the castle its current appearance. They sold it to the Van den Steen family in 1720. The last descendant of the family, Count Guy vanden Steen, bequeathed it to the province in 1999. He was a sculptor, among other things, and many of his bronze statues still adorn the gardens. He did, however, incorporate a distinctive symbolism, depicting nude female figures mating with beetles. The 22-hectare estate also features an Italian ornamental garden with water features and bronze statues, a 19th-century vegetable garden with orangeries, a 19th-century icehouse, and many listed trees. The castle also has its own church within the moat on a peninsula. Over the centuries, the owners have amassed numerous curiosities that can be seen in the castle, which is now a provincial property and open to visitors.

In the hamlet of Rogerée is the former courthouse of the municipality of Jehay-Bodegnée. Commemorative plaques from World War I and II, made of natural stone, are incorporated into the facade.

The church of Saint-Martin in Seraing-le-Château was built in the 16th and 17th centuries and consists of a single nave of 3 bays, extended by a choir with stucco and decorated with a dove of the Holy Spirit. The church contains a recumbent grave from 1585, that of Jean-Guillaume de La Marck, nephew of Guillaume de La Marck. In front of the church you will find a war memorial and in the cemetery around the church there are (remains of) various old graves and war graves. Also note the large statue of Mary on the other side of the road. Source: https://www.egliseinfo.be/lieu/45/seraing-le-chateau/saint-martin

In honor of its illustrious citizen, born in the village in 1826 and died in Paris in 1901, the Jehay municipal authorities inaugurated a public fountain. In a style inspired by the 18th century, the limestone fountain features a bronze medallion representing the left profile of the famous inventor of the dynamo, who lived for several years at street number 2 in Jehay, today's rue Zénobe Gramme. Under the medallion, decorated with wreaths and laurels, the following words are carved in stone: Zénobe Gramme Inventor of the industrial dynamo Born on April 4, 1826 in Jehay-Bodegnée Source: https://connaitrelawallonie.wallonie.be/fr/culture-et-patrimoine/patrimoine/fontaine-zenobe-gramme Under a relief on the back of the fountain is a plaque telling the history of the monument and mentioning the generous donors to the public tender.

In 1428, the castle was confiscated by the Prince-Bishop of Wathieu Datin and passed successively to the Gossuin de Beine, de Towin and de Sart families. In 1537, Jehan Helman de Sart, married to Marguerite de la Falloise, inherited the property and undertook the construction of a new castle. In 1720, Lambert van den Steen acquired the castle. He was lord of the manor of Saive in Haspengouw and advisor to the Prince-Bishop. This family gave the building the splendor that we can admire today. Source: https://www.provincedeliege.be/de/node/10400

Built in the 16th and 17th centuries, it consists of a single nave with three bays extended by a vaulted stucco choir decorated with a dove of the Holy Spirit.

It was in 1907 that the inhabitants of Jehay-Bodegnée inaugurated the monument in memory of their citizen, Zénobe Gramme, inventor of the dynamo. The engineer's portrait appears in a bronze medallion. On the back of the monument, the work is symbolized by a bas-relief.

Superb architectural ensemble (castle, old farm and chapel) located in a pretty, well-maintained park. The little extra, an "artistic" vegetable garden of one hectare (100mx100m) which is worth the detour when the vegetables are present there.