Anhée: the forty-four-meter table where local produce takes its place

In the Meuse Valley, there are evenings that appear in no prestigious guidebook, yet they leave the traveler with the most enduring of memories. The one we wish to tell you about takes place in a village square, centered around a table so long that its ends are lost from sight: forty-four meters of timber set out beneath the sky of Anhée, at that hour when the October light turns as golden as abbey ale.

On the first Friday of every month—from the end of winter through the early days of autumn—the municipality of Anhée invites local producers, community groups, and curious visitors to join their “Vendredis du terroir” (Local Produce Fridays). You don’t come here merely to “do” a market; you come to sit down, sample local fare, listen to a bit of music, and—almost before you realize it—strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you on the bench. It is a lesson in Belgian-style conviviality: unpretentious, authentic, and entirely genuine.

The final gathering of the season is set for Friday, October 2, 2026. It will be, quite precisely, your very last chance this year to take a seat at that table under that particular sky. We suggest making this the centerpiece of an entire day, perhaps by including a detour to a vineyard-château—one of the many treasures along the Meuse that you are sure to fall in love with.

A village square transformed into a dining room

Anhée is one of those municipalities along the Meuse River that truly understands the art of setting a scene. Located about thirty minutes from Bungalows du Bonsoy, the town square (Place communale, 5537 Anhée) is transformed—for a few hours—into a vast communal table, open to everyone. Local producers set up their stalls, a community-run bar offers refreshments to passersby, and food is served right to your seat at the table.

The atmosphere begins to build around 4:00 PM and continues until 8:00 PM. Live music starts around 6:00 PM, and admission is free. Each edition is organized by a different association—the October event is hosted by the association La Clé de Sol, promising an evening where music takes center stage.

“A market where you don’t just fill your basket, but also your glass, your plate, and your memories—to us, that is the finest definition of terroir.”

The market board: nine products for two guests

The core concept of the evening can be summed up in three words: the market board. It is a wooden board designed to be shared by two people, featuring nine products sourced from the vendors present. The selection changes from month to month, making every edition unique.

How it works

1. The tasting board is available for €20 for two people.
2. A €10 deposit (or leaving an ID card) is required to ensure the return of the board and cutlery.
3. The number of boards is limited to 100 per market; therefore, booking online is highly recommended (the form can be accessed via the event’s official page, linked at the end of this article).
4. Simply set your board down at the long communal table, glass in hand, and let the evening unfold.

This setup has an undeniable charm: you get to sample local produce without having to make any difficult choices, and behind every bite, you meet someone—a person with a name, a face, and often a story to share.

Bioul: The art of letting wine slumber in a château

Before sitting down to dine, treat yourself to an afternoon out. Just a few minutes from Anhée, the village of Bioul is home to the Château de Bioul—an estate with a heritage that, according to its owners, dates back to the 11th century. Today, the property is a family-run business, managed by Andy and Vanessa Wyckmans-Vaxelaire, who combine hospitality with viticulture.

The vineyard spans 14 hectares, cultivated using organic and biodynamic farming methods. The Belgian wines and sparkling wines (crémants) produced here have even earned the estate recognition from the Gault & Millau Wine Awards. In a region where one might not necessarily expect to find vines, the discovery is both striking and delightful.

Two ways to visit

The estate offers two types of experiences. The first, Made in Bioul, blends the history of the château with the secrets of the organic vineyard and a tour of the winery, concluding with a stroll through the centuries-old park. The second, the Privilege Visit, is a guided immersion that offers insight into the family history and includes a tasting of five different wines.

Package	Price	Duration
Made in Bioul – adult	€12	1 to 2 hours
Made in Bioul – senior / student	€11	1 to 2 hours
Made in Bioul – child (ages 4–12)	€7	1 to 2 hours
Privilege Tour (5 tastings)	€59 per person	1.5 to 2 hours

The estate is open Thursday through Sunday, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, from April to October. A Friday—such as October 2nd—is therefore a perfect time to visit. A terrace overlooking the vineyards and picnic baskets (which must be reserved in advance) allow you to extend your stay.

Suggested itinerary: a Friday in Anhée

• Morning: A leisurely breakfast at Bonsoy, followed by a drive toward the Bocq Valley, tracing the course of the Meuse River—where autumn unfolds in shades of copper and bronze.
• Midday: Lunch on a terrace, or a pre-packed picnic to take along toward Bioul.
• Afternoon: A “Made in Bioul” tour around 2:00 PM, a stroll through the park, and a tasting of *crémant* (sparkling wine).
• Evening: Arrival in Anhée around 5:00 PM; enjoy a “market board” (platter of local goods), live music starting at 6:00 PM, and a seat at the communal table until 8:00 PM.

Why people return: the spirit of the place

You have to see it for yourself—on an evening toward the end of the season, watching a forty-four-meter-long table gradually fill up—to truly grasp what makes these gatherings so unique. There are no assigned seats; families sit alongside passing cyclists, village elders mingle with travelers, and wooden serving boards are passed from person to person, much like a book being shared among friends. You come for the food, but you stay for everything else.

This collective dimension is precisely what is missing from so many tourist experiences. Sharing a table in a village means stepping—if only for an evening—into the rhythm of everyday local life. It reveals that the Haute-Meuse region is more than just a postcard-perfect landscape of cliffs and castles; it is a vibrant, hospitable, and delightfully mischievous community.

Our tips for a perfect evening

• Reserve your tasting board: With only 100 boards available per market, those who arrive late may find themselves limited to the bar and other food offerings.
• Dress in layers: In early October, the temperature drops quickly once the sun slips behind the rooftops.
• Designate a driver: Between the *crémants* from Bioul and the community-run bar, the journey home requires a sober driver.
• Arrive early: Late afternoon—before the music begins—is the best time to chat easily with the local producers.

October in the Haute-Meuse: The Season of Low-Slung Light

October has a logic all its own. The vines at Bioul turn a rich, russet hue, the woodlands of the Bocq Valley set ablaze with autumn color, and the low-angled autumn light transforms every blue-stone façade into a little treasure. It is the perfect month for travelers who love fine food, long walks, and convivial, large-table dining—a time when the summer crowds have dispersed and the locals finally have the time to share stories about their region.

If time permits, consider a detour along the banks of the Meuse or to one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia, located just near Le Bonsoy. A short excursion of a few hours is all it takes to turn a simple dinner into a true adventure.

Extend your getaway

The culinary heritage of Wallonia offers far more than what can be experienced in a single evening. If you’d like to delve deeper, our other gourmet excursions await: discover the *escavèche*—a vinegary treasure from the ponds of Chimay—the *couque de Dinant* and its centuries-old craftsmanship, or explore our gourmet guide to the terraces along the Meuse River.

For a different atmosphere, Bioul on Fire presents the same château in a spectacular light, while the Chemin de Fer du Bocq (Bocq Railway) invites you to experience autumn at a leisurely pace.

Stay in the heart of Bonsoy

After an evening spent sharing good times, nothing beats the quiet of a chalet in the woods. The Woody Lodge, with its cozy, chalet-style warmth, is the perfect way to extend the convivial spirit of the “Vendredis du terroir” (Local Produce Fridays). Autumn dates are filling up fast—book your stay at the Bungalows du Bonsoy and turn this gourmet getaway into a long weekend in the heart of the Meuse Valley.

Sources

• ADL Anhée – Vendredis du terroir 2026
• Explore Meuse – Les Vendredis du terroir (October 2)
• Château de Bioul – Tours and tastings
• Château de Bioul – About the estate