Durbuy attracts visitors from across Belgium and beyond every weekend. With its enchanting Christmas Market running until 5 January and just 1 hour 40 minutes from Luxembourg City, it is the perfect destination to escape the ordinary, savour timeless moments, and gather around one of the many delightful tables in the town.
“It’s magical.” That’s the phrase that springs from the lips of everyone who visits Durbuy’s Christmas Market. Over 100,000 visitors come each year. Here, wooden chalets line the streets, each one offering a unique discovery, often of the culinary kind.
Cobblestone streets illuminated with festive lights, charming grey-stone houses, a castle overlooking the town walls, and a central river… Durbuy is the ideal spot for a peaceful, rejuvenating, and gourmet weekend getaway. It’s a place that transports you: one moment to Brittany, the next to a quaint English countryside village, and then to Santa’s magical village itself.
“To combine tradition and gastronomy, to bring together pleasure and discovery, to embrace the art of living””surely, happiness is all these things at once?”
These are the words of Philippe Bontemps, mayor of the petite commune of Durbuy, whose old town is home to just 350 residents. His statement highlights the incredible gastronomic offering within its ancient walls. Indeed, this small area boasts over 15 restaurants, several delicatessens, and even a butcher shop!
Wout Bru, the serial chef
Today, the most influential chef in Durbuy is undoubtedly Wout Bru. In partnership with Marc Coucke, a prominent Belgian entrepreneur, Bru arrived in the tiny town in 2017 and has since developed a culinary scene that is “high-quality, but accessible to all budgets,” as described by the former two-Michelin-starred chef from southern France.
From Le Grand Verre, a Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant in the heart of the old town, to La Bru’sserie, an upscale brasserie, and Wagyu, specialising in grilled meats (temporarily closed following a fire in early December), Bru’s culinary ventures cater to diverse tastes. Other highlights include La Brasserie des Ardennes, serving regional dishes, Limoni e Tartufi, an Italian eatery, as well as brasseries at the golf course and glamping site. Adding to this list is his seasonal offering: a festive Christmas chalet known simply as Chalet Bru.
A Family Legacy
Alongside the burgeoning Coucke-Bru empire, the Caerdinael family has also left an indelible mark on Durbuy.
“Our great-grandparents arrived in Durbuy from Antwerp 80 years ago. They were the ones who created hotels like Le Sanglier des Ardennes and Jean de Bohème, which have since been acquired and transformed by Marc Coucke,” explains Louise, one of the great-granddaughters.
Today, Louise and her two sisters manage Hotel and Restaurant Victoria, Hotel and Concept Store Léa, the guest rooms at the bar-restaurant Le 7 by Juliette, and the Darcis chocolate shop. “We also run several holiday cottages,” Louise adds.
A Land of Gastronomy and Festivities
Surrounding these two powerhouses of Durbuy are a host of other exceptional dining establishments, such as Le Clos des Récollets, a Michelin Bib Gourmand, Durbuy Ý”, and La Table de Manon (one Michelin star).
Durbuy is truly a land of gastronomy and celebration, home to festivals like the Beer, Bread, and Cheese Festival, and its iconic Christmas Market, running from late November to 5 January each year.
A refreshing and comforting destination, easily within reach of Luxembourg.
Photos: Durbuy Tourist Office and Le Sanglier des Ardennes
