Plateau des Tailles

Nestled in the heart of the Ardennes, the Plateau des Tailles is a natural gem offering magnificent landscapes. Rising to 652 meters, the iconic Baraque de Fraiture is the centerpiece of this plateau located within the Two Ourthes Natural Park. Numerous streams originate here, creating the Ourthe and Amblève river basins.

An integral part of the Ardennes massif, the Plateau des Tailles shares its character with related regions such as the Hautes Fagnes, the Fagnes Spadoises, the Plateau de Saint-Hubert, and the Massif de la Croix-Scaille. What makes this place unique is not only its great diversity of landscapes, but also the different animal and plant species that thrive there, from sundews to dragonflies.

More than half of the plateau is covered by spruce and beech forests. In the clearings, one encounters grazing animals such as cows, horses, and sheep. Unlike the vast moors of the High Fens, modest peat bogs dot the landscape.

The Plateau has also faced a number of challenges over the years, including logging, climate change, and urbanization. Fortunately, recent initiatives, such as the European LIFE project, have revitalized the Plateau des Tailles. The return to the original landscape has enriched biodiversity, allowing rare plants and animals to thrive in this restored ecosystem!

The Plateau des Tailles is renowned for its harsh winters and frequent frosts: snow covers the landscape between 20 and 60 days a year, attracting skiers and hikers around the iconic Baraque de Fraiture!

Looking to explore the region? Perfect timing: some lovely walks await you! The Fagne Sacrawe boardwalk, about six kilometers long, is ideal for families with children. You'll find beautiful scenery and stunning views along the boardwalks. From the Plateau des Tailles observation tower, you can also embark on other lovely walks such as the 3-km Source of the Aisne trail or the 9-km Fagne d'Odeigne trail. At the viewpoint, you'll also find picnic tables where you can enjoy a well-deserved meal after your hike!

Besides its natural beauty, the Plateau des Tailles has a very rich history : in the past, it formed the heart of the Ardennes! It was surrounded by the territories of the Gallic tribes of the Treveri, Condruzi, and Eburones. Ancient traces of gold mining, including the intriguing Trou des Massotais, explored in the late 1990s, bear witness to a past rich in activity.

Later, during the Second World War, the Plateau des Tailles was intended to serve as the launch site for the first operational V2 rocket by the Germans on September 6, 1944. Technical problems and the Allied advance ultimately forced them to move the operation to another location. The plateau was also the scene of intense fighting during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-1945, particularly at Manhay.