By Linda Tancs

Ask anyone to define the heart of Europe and you’ll get as many responses as there are possibilities. One of those possibilities is a tiny region known as the Eastern Cantons of Belgium, stretching from the Dutch border to Luxembourg. With French, Dutch and German influences (Germany hugging the eastern border), you might think the area suffers from a bit of an identity crisis, but the multilingual populace seems to embrace its diversity. The three cantons comprising this area–Eupen, Malmedy and St. Vith–offer a range of natural wonders and cosmopolitan flair equal to any European cultural capital, from the outdoor cafes of Marktplatz in Eupen to the Michelin-starred eatery in St. Vith. Between the northern and southern reaches lies a mix of dense forest, marshes and wetlands for the avid hiker or cyclist. Over 70,000 inhabitants call this region home and home, as they say, is where the heart is.

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