19 sites et legends in two Nature parks
Mysterious legends form the folk heritage of the cross-border region Ardennes. They conjure up a whole gallery of imaginary characters: fairies and dwarves, werewolves and wizards, good and wicked folk in places shaped by religious beliefs, Roman colonisation, the medieval world, the excesses of the Baroque era and the romanticism of a recent past. The landscapes and cultural traditions of the two Nature Parks of the Upper-Sûre on either side of the border date back thousands of years, and bear many traces of their past.
You can adapt your plans to suit your tastes and the time available to you, discovering two or three sites as you please and wending your way back and forth along our scenic country roads. In each village there is an information sign telling you the must-sees. And who knows? As you come to a turn down some mysterious lane, you may spot a gnome, pointing out the way to you…
Practical information
19 sites and legends
Different walking routes and levels
Nature Parks of the Haute-Sûre, Belgium and Luxembourg
Brochures / maps
For more information about the legend circuit, you can find a map with the route and places of interest in both parks. It is also possible to purchase a complete guide and a CD with the stories of these legendary places.
At each stage there is an information board with explanations about the legend.
Fancy some more legends? There is also a legend trail between the French and Belgian Ardennes.
The Legends trail
The stages
In Luxembourg
1. Doncols – The Wolf of Doncols
The Wolf of Doncols is no ordinary wolf, but a two-legged creature. He is more talented as a storyteller than as a hunter. His stories, recalling those of the good old Baron von Münchhausen, amuse old and young alike in the villages of the Oesling.
Approximately 45 minutes’ walk.
Level: average
Worth seeing: the “Train nature” trail at Winseler. The cycle track along the former Witlz-Bastogne railway line.
Time: approximately 45 minutes’ walk
Level: average
Worth seeing: the “Train nature” trail at Winseler. The cycle track along the former Witlz-Bastogne railway line.
2. Boulaide – The golden cradle
The last of the line of Busleyden, in his immense solitude, senses the autumn of this life drawing in and contemplates the family cradle… lying empty.
Time: approximately 60 minutes’ walk
Level: easy
Worth seeing: the state-owned mill at Surré. The “Wiss, Baach, Besch” nature trail at Baschleiden. The “Houfels” viewpoint near Boulaide and the “Mirador” viewpoint at Baschleiden. The nature reserve of “Pont Misère”.
3. Saint Pirmin – The Pirmesmännchen
Between Buderscheid and Kaundorf, on St Pirmin’s Mound (“Permësknupp”), there once lived a hermit called Thinnes. Locally, he was also known as the ‘Pirmesmännchen’. One day, the inevitable happens, and the good Thinnes meets the wicked ‘Jaasmännchen’…
Time: approximately 20 minutes’ walk.
Level: easy
Worth seeing: the church at Bavigne with its altar by Nicolas Jacques (1744) and its old cemetery. ‘Den Häeregaard’, the old priests’ garden at Bavigne. The ‘an der Runtschelt’ shelter at Kaundorf, occupied by the Luxembourg Resistance during the Second World War. ‘De Bongert’, the orchard at Kaundorf with its pond and other attractions.
4. Heiderscheid-Grund – The Jaasmännchen
Originally from Dahl, the ‘Jaasmännchen’ haunts the villages and terrorises the local inhabitants for a long time.
Time: approximately 45 minutes’ walk.
Level: difficult
Worth seeing: the octoganal chapel of St Cunégonde from 1850. ‘Goesdorf and its antimony mine’, geological exploration and orientation trail. ‘On the trail of water and nature’, exploration trails at Eschdorf.
5. Esch-sur-Sûre – The mysterious announcement of the death of Henri d’Esch
In 1096, the noblest and bravest knights are ready to cross Europe and Asia Minor to reconquer the Holy Land and take it back from the control of the infidels. Among them is Count Henri d’Esch.
Time: approximately 30 minutes’ walk.
Level: easy
Worth seeing: Wool mill, Nature Park Centre. Lime avenue and Cemetery Chapel. Audio-guided circuit ‘The mysteries of Esch-sur-Sûre’.
6. Le Bourgfried – The fratricide of Bigonville
Wolfram, blinded by hatred, kills his half-brother Ullrich and sets fire to the Friedburg Castle. Fleeing abroad, he becomes the cruel ‘black knight’. One day, Wolfram is seriously wounded in battle…
Time: approximately 60 minutes’ walk
Level: difficult
Worth seeing: Burfet, the centre and its forest discovery path. “Solarboot um Séi”, a guided nature discovery trip on the Upper-Sûre Lake. The sculpture trail at Lultzhausen.
7. Roodt – The disappearance of Hulscheidt
In Roodt, legend has it that, during the Thirty Years War, the village of Hulscheidt disappeared in mysterious circumstances.
Time: approximately 60 minutes’ walk
Level: difficult
Worth seeing: the frescoes in the church at Lannen. Colpach Mansion and its estate. The valleys of Roodt (‘Riedergrënn’). The sculptures of the knights of Ell.
In Belgium
8. Grumelange – The weasel and the Gold Coin
While brining soup to his father, who is tending the herd in the hills of Grumelange, a young lad surprises a weasel… holding a gold coin in its mouth!
Worth seeing: St. Joseph’s Chapel from 1700. Old houses and farms in the village. Kauten Farm, 18th century. Old schist stone bridge at Grumelange (1873).
9. Tintange – The curse of Œil Chapel
A house which is partly built with stones from a chapel falls under a strange curse…
Time: Approximately 2 hours’ walk
Level: difficult
Worth seeing: Place Tintange. Church, presbytery, graveyard and school. Calvary. Romeldange.
10. Martelange – A holy Christmas Eve
A couple of over-curious peasants decide to find out for themselves wether the legends about Christmas are more than just stories…
Worth seeing: Nature Park Centre of the Upper-Sûre and the Forest of Anlier (Maison du Parc). ‘Parc de la Tannerie’ (Tannery Park). Museum of the Upper-Sûre. Former slate quarries.
11. Bastogne – Le loup-garou de Neffe
A stable lad turns into a werewolf and ambushes his rival.
Worth seeing: Place McAuliffe. Museum ‘En Piconrue’. Porte de Trèves. Mardasson and Bastogne War Museum.
12. Bourcy – The knight and the Fair Pilgrim
Blinded by love, a lord brings evil into his home.
Worth seeing: St. John’s Church, the choir of the old chapel. Bourcy Castle, today Steinbach (private)
13. Villeroux – The last wolf of Villeroux
A wolf is looking forward to making a meal of a few sheep… but he hasn’t reckoned on the shepherd!
Time: approximately 90 minutes’ walk
Level: Average
Worth seeing: Notre-Dame Chapel and its graveyard, 17th century. ‘Maison Piron’, large 18th century farmhouse. The old graveyard at Sibret.
14. Bodange – The accursed knights of Bodange
Cruel lords have been giving the villagers of Bodange a hard time. Until the day the heavens come to their aid.
Time: approximately 60 minutes’ walk
Level: easy
Worth seeing: St Barbara’s Chapel, with furniture and statues from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Old fortified farm. Restored 18th century houses and farms in the village.
15. Volaiville – Gnomes’ Hole
A generous gnome helps out a poor, helpless widow. She greedily decides to let her neighbour take adventage of his help…
Time: approximately 20 minutes’ walk
Level: average
Worth seeing: typical Ardennes farmhouses in the village. Gnomes’ Hole (Trou des Nutons). Géronne nature reserve.
16. Planchipont – An old wild boar confides
In a pine forest near Vaux-sur-Sûre, a walker encounters a wild boar. To his surprise, the beast starts confiding to him…
Time: approximately 60 minutes’ walk
Level: easy
Worth seeing: the Arboretum and the sources of the Sûre. The ‘Monceau’ fortified farm at Juseret. The Notre-Dame de Lourdes cave and park with way of the cross.
17. Habay-la-Neuve – The last Marquise of Pont d’Oye
Brilliant festivities, flaunted luxury… the eccentricities of the most famous marchioness of Pont d’Oye.
Worth seeing: Pont d’Oye Castle. The magnificient ‘Châtelet’ estate. The ‘Bolonge’ estate.
18. Marbehan – The treasure of ‘La Misbour’
A mysterious forest… buried treasure… an accursed spot…
Worth seeing: the site of ‘La Misbour’ is 3.5 km from Fauvilliers on the Louftémont road.
19. The Mellier Forges – Death comes unbidden to the bonfire
It was festival time in Léglise, with a mighty bonfire! But around the pyre that evening, there was an extra dancer…
Worth seeing: The Mellier Forges.
