Wepion Strawberries

Wepion is a village strung along the Meuse south of Namur that became the centre of Belgian strawberry growing in the nineteenth century, when the slope, the aspect and the river microclimate proved to suit the crop, and at its peak it supplied a large part of the national market. Production has fallen a great deal since, and much of what is sold at the roadside now comes from elsewhere, but the association has stuck and the season from May to July still brings stalls along the road and a strawberry festival. The Strawberry Museum, small and enthusiastic, covers the history of the crop, the varieties, the growing and the local trade, with a collection of related objects and a tasting. The Meuse valley setting is the other half of it.

The main sights

• Roadside stalls in season - the strawberry trade along the Meuse road.
• The Strawberry Museum - varieties, growing and the local history.
• The Meuse valley slope - the aspect that suited the crop.
• The June festival - the village's strawberry weekend.

When to go

May to July for the season; the museum is open year round with reduced winter hours. Two hours. The festival falls in June. Weekends in season are busy on the river road.

What to expect

Much of the fruit sold at the roadside is no longer local, which sellers are not always clear about. The museum is very small. The village is strung along a busy road with heavy traffic. Outside the season there is little point.

Nearby

Namur and its citadel are north; Annevoie lies south.