When do the leaves change in Belgium?
Belgium's Ardennes beech and oak forests turn deep bronze by mid-October, with the Hautes Fagnes plateau and the wooded Semois Valley around Bouillon and La Roche among the country's best autumn drives.
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Weather data for Belgium lands with the next model run. Meanwhile, explore the map.
Known for
Things to do in fall in Belgium
3 iconic stops — scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Hautes Fagnes (High Fens) Nature Reserve
State parkBelgium's oldest nature reserve, a 4,500-hectare raised peat bog on the country's highest plateau, its treeless moor ringed by birch and fir forest that turns gold through October. Boardwalks cross the bog to Signal de Botrange, the 694-meter high point of Belgium.
Don’t miss: Signal de Botrange, Belgium's highest point at 694m · boardwalk trails across the raised peat bog · birch and fir forest ringing the moorland
Tombeau du Géant
ViewpointA hilltop overlook near Botassart where the Semois River doubles back on itself in a tight, forested hairpin below. Beech, oak, and hornbeam cover the valley slopes on both sides of the loop, turning through October; a Celtic legend claims a defeated giant threw himself from the cliff opposite.
Don’t miss: hairpin bend of the Semois River far below · beech, oak, and hornbeam forest on the valley slopes · linked trail to the Rocher des Gattes viewpoint
La Roche-en-Ardenne
Historic townA river town wrapped around a bend of the Ourthe, overlooked by the ruins of an 11th-century castle. Roughly half the surrounding 85-square-kilometer municipality is forest, split evenly between conifer and deciduous stands, making the drives out along the Ourthe valley the real draw each fall.
Don’t miss: ruined medieval castle above the Ourthe bend · forest covering half the surrounding municipality · Ourthe valley drives lined with autumn color
Frequently asked
- What are the best things to do in fall in Belgium?
- The iconic stops: Hautes Fagnes (High Fens) Nature Reserve, Tombeau du Géant, La Roche-en-Ardenne. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
- What are the best things to do in autumn in Belgium?
- Autumn — autumn (September–November) — is peak season here. Pair the color with Hautes Fagnes (High Fens) Nature Reserve, Tombeau du Géant, La Roche-en-Ardenne; each is on the map above with the window to catch it.