Ciney

Ciney (formerly spelt Chiney, pop. 15,000) is a small town in the middle of the Condroz region. It is not really touristic but is at least famous for two things : its beer and its cattle.

Beer has been brewed in Ciney since 1450. The modern 'Ciney beer' is either "blonde" or "brown", and the brown version is one of Belgium's most famous, which says a lot.

Ciney has the largest cattle market in Belgium, with 4,000 animals passing there each week. Ciney calls itself the capital of the "Blanc Bleu Belge" (li. "Belgian White & Blue" cow), i.e. beef from Frisian (Holstein) cows, one of Europe's most reputed. It is no wonder under these conditions that Ciney should also have a lively "Institut Supérieur d'Agronomie" (Agronomy College).

Ciney's cows are also famous for having started the famous Guerre de la Vache (War of the Cow) in the Middle Ages.

How to get there

Ciney is 30min by train from Namur on the Brussels-Luxembourg line.

By car, it is about 25min on the N4 motorway.

Train timetables & reservations

Accommodation