PlanetSKI Heads to Belgium

In truth not a lot, but there are connections, and we have been sporadically posting this summer about what PlanetSKI gets up to outside of the winter ski season.

Judging by the page views the articles have received, our readers have an interest.

Earlier this month we were in Greece where we learnt much about the skiing in the country known more for sand than snow.

• PlanetSKI prepares for winter on the Greek island of Tinos

Now we are heading to Brusells.

In fact, the start of the journey on the Eurostar jolted our ski memory as it reminded us how travelling by the train to the Alps is a pleasure rather than a chore.

• Arrival just an hour or so before departure
• Simple security and check in
• No weight restrictions on luggage
• An attractive building
• Comfortable seats
• Great views as the landscape rolls by

Eurostar, St Pancras. Image © PlanetSKI

Eurostar, St Pancras. Image © PlanetSKI

Eurostar. Image © PlanetSKI

Eurostar. Image © PlanetSKI

We’ll again be travelling to the Alps by train next season without doubt.

The train to Brusells stopped at Lille, where in the winter one simply changes platforms to head to the Alps.

Eurostar. Image © PlanetSKI

Eurostar. Image © PlanetSKI

This ski season the timetable has been extended.

• Eurostar service to the French Alps expands

Image © Eurostar

Now Belgium has a few skiing skiing connections.

It has a handful of ski areas when conditions allow and some indoor ski slopes.

We wouldn’t recommend it as a ski destination at all, but we always find it interesting to discover anywhere in the world where skiing can be found.

Baraque de Fraiture in the Ardennes region is the highest point in Belgium at 654m.

This makes it one of the best spots in Belgium for outdoor skiing – if snow falls.

It is located in Vielsalm and offers three ski slopes with three ski lifts.

There is also Val de Wanne, with two ski lifts and a 1km slope – the longest in Belgium.

There is also over 10kms of cross-country skiing when enough snow falls.

Other ski areass include Le Montry Lierneux, Montes des Brumes, Ovifat and Thier des Rexhons.

Only two ski areas allow snowboarders, due to safety issues: Baraque de Fraiture and Thiers des Rexhons.

There are indoor slopes at the Ice Mountain Adventure Park in Komen that has two slopes (210m and 85m).

There are two other indoor ski slopes – SnoWorld Antwerpenn and Snow Valley in Peer.

The Belgians love their skiing and are an important market for the alpine destinations.

The Benelux countries are in the top three overseas market for many major resorts.

Out of a total population of 12m it is estimated 11% of Belgians ski.

On this short trip to Belgium we are heading to Bruges.

Like many of the smaller and lesser-known ski resorts I visit in the winter, I am arriving in the ancient city with little knowledge of the place and an open mind.

When I visit as ski area that I do not know then I much prefer to view it without any pre-conceptions and take it for what it is.

This approach held me in good stead at the end of last season:

• Les Sybelles: the largest French ski area you have never heard of
• PlanetSKI slows down in Val d’Arly

It is the same with Bruges.

I have heard of its beautiful city centre and its wonderful restaurants, but I shall be visiting with my eyes and ears wide open and simply going with the flow.

On first impression it has more than a passing resemblance to one of our favourite cities in the Alps- Innsbruck in Austria.

Bruges, Belgium. Image © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Image © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Image © PlanetSKI

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