Victor Hugo, the great French writer and poet, was also a great traveller. From 1837 onwards, he visited Wallonia several times and travelled along the Vesdre valley towards Prussia in 1840. Of our valley, he said in his story "The Rhine": "It is the most beautiful valley in the world. In this season, on a beautiful day, with a blue sky, it is sometimes a ravine, often a garden, always a paradise. Of our booming woolen town, he confided: "Verviers, an insignificant town by the way, is divided into three districts called the Chick-Chack, the Basse-Crotte and the Dardanelle. I noticed a little boy of six sitting on the threshold of his house, smoking his pipe masterfully. As I passed by, this little smoker burst out laughing. I concluded that I looked very ridiculous to him.

Artist : Alain Bietton (Belgium)

Year: 2022