Since the 12th century, the abbey at Orval has been tucked away deep in the Ardennes forest to keep the monks from urban temptation. Northwest of Orval along the rugged and raw Semois valley is the medieval castles in Bouillon, where the dungeons and turrets were once the domain of Godfrey of Bouillon, leader of the first crusade to claim Jerusalem for Christianity in 1099. The Grand Duchy lies just few kilometres east. Paris, Brussels and Luxembourg all have airports within easy reach. A car is needed to get around the countryside.
Roads are good but public transportation is rare.
Pack walking boots to get the most out of the region. Winter can easily dip below freezing and can offer enough snow for cross-country skiing. Spring is notoriously fickle. They can also be frustratingly wet and chilly. Go this year, and you can still juggle the different coins of France, Belgium and Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands.