Sites Sewn
As the battleground for two world wars, Belgium is also big on remembrance. North, in Flanders’ fields, it is hard to remain unmoved by the mute testimony of the many cemeteries housing the fallen soldiers from the Great War. In the south, the Mardasson Memorial and Bastogne Historical Center commemorate those who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

A meditative moment could well take place at Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval, which offers an engaging tour of the ruins of the old abbey during the summer and fall, if not of the active Trappist community. But the fruits of their labors — cheese and beer — are always available at a nearby alfresco café, a restful site from which to view the abbey. Other than a weaker version they make for themselves, the monks brew only one Orval beer. Naturally, it’s one of the most distinctive in the world, and a fitting benediction for any Belgian beer exploration.

Belgium Checklist:

Flanders
Flanders Tourist Office
(212) 584-2336
visitflanders.us

Where to stay:
Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace, Bruges, kempinski.com/en
Hotel Heritage, Bruges, www.hotel-heritage.com
Monasterium PoortAckere, Ghent, monasterium.be
Hotel Julien, Antwerp, hotel-julien.com
De Witte Lelie, Antwerp, dewittelelie.be

Where to eat:
De Karmeliet, Bruges, dekarmeliet.be
Belga Queen, Ghent, belgaqueen.be
‘t Zilte Restaurant, Antwerp, tzilte.be

Beer Degustation:
De Groote Witte Arend, Antwerp, degrootewittearend.be
Den Dyver Restaurant, Bruges, www.dijver.be
Belga Queen, Ghent (or Brussels), belgaqueen.be
’t Hommelhof, Watou, hommelhof.be

Brussels
Where to stay:
The Dominican, carlton.nl/dominican
Hotel Amigo, hotelamigo.com

Where to eat:
Comme Chez Soi, commechezsoi.com

Beer Degustation:
Cambrinus, cambrinus.eu

Where to stay Outside Brussels:
Château du Lac, Genval, chateaudulac.warwickhotels.com
Dolce La Hulpe, La Hulpe, dolce-la-hulpe-brussels-hotel.com

Wallonia
Wallonia Tourist Office
(212) 758-8130
www.visitbelgium.com

Where to stay:
Château des Thermes, Chaudfontaine, chateaudesthermes.be
Manoir de Lébioles, Spa, manoirdelebioles.com
La Vigie Bed & Breakfast, Spa, la-vigie.be
Le Sanglier des Ardennes, Durbuy, sanglier-des-ardennes.be
La Grande Cure, Marcourt, lagrandecure.be
 Domaine du Château du Bois d’Arlon, Arlon, chateau-arlon.com
L’Hostellerie du Peiffeschof, Arlon, peiffeschor.be

Where to eat:
Restaurant l’Art de Vivre, Spa, artdevivre.be
Cuisinémoi, Namur, cuisinemoi.be
Lemonnier, Lavaux Sainte-Anne (near Namur), lemonnier.be
L’Air du Temps, Noville-sur-Mehaigne (near Namur), airdutemps.be

BEERS TO TRY (among many others):
Duvel, De Koninck, Kwak, DeuS, Rodenbach Grand Cru, Poperings Hommel Bier, Malheur Bière Brut, Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze, Boon Oude Geuze, Westmalle Tripel, Saison Dupont, Trappistes Rochefort 8, Orval

FESTIVALS TO ATTEND:
Christmas Beer Festival
December 17-18: A selection of 150 Belgian Christmas and winter beers in Essen, www.kerstbierfestival.be

Zythos Bier Festival
April 28-29, 2012: The country’s largest beer festival, this year in Leuven, www.zbf.be/UK/index.htm

Carnival in Binche
March 5-7, 2012: An annual elaborate celebration prior to Lent

Ommegang
July 3 and 5, 2012: A costumed festival, where the people of Belgium celebrate the country’s history, www.ommegang.be