They came here to the mosan valley to relive the tranquillity of their native England. "The rich English of the 19th century were great travellers. He tells me the fascinating story of this small village that became the centre of the world. I follow him and eat his every word throughout this Waulsort walkabout. The association would be nothing without these passionate people. The next day, after a delicious breakfast, one of them, Olivier Gebka, is to be my guide. Treated like a prince, I'm on cloud nine. Diane tastefully prepares a healthy menu based on local, fair-trade produce. I succumb to the charm, this house appeals to me. In the neighbouring room, the huge grand piano beckons to the hands of its pianist, the virtuoso, Adelin Deltenre. In the evening, out come the earthenware and the silver cutlery.
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"The large patio doors open onto a sculpted wooden terrace." The colonial influence of the English Indian empire adds enchantment to the villa. The style of the house is a blend of art nouveau and art déco, inspired by Horta. The owner's rooms are on the first floor and the servants' quarters are on the second, but these are restricted in the summer.". They housed kitchens and utility areas for the staff." At Villa 1900, Diane also tells me about the old dumbwaiter that carried dishes from the kitchen directly to the dining room. The cellars were raised to ground level to protect them from flooding. These villas were all built to the same design. The project's ultimate aim is the Waulsortium which, besides a tour of the villa, proposes exhibitions in the museum, evening conferences and guided walkabouts.ĭiane explains that the "a mosan villa is recognisable by its stone foundation and its brick lattice work, which was a status symbol. The cast iron bas-relief radiators, the tiling, the woodwork and the entire deco are all reminders of those early 20th-century features. They launched this rather mad project of reviving this era in a villa that they have restored with great enthusiasm. She and her cooperators are inspirational. When I enter the Villa, I'm greeted by Diane, dressed 1900-style.
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The Belle Epoque was definitely a reality at Waulsort, a remote little village on the River Meuse, in the heart of the countryside. At the beginning of the last century, Waulsort was a world apart, an exquisite haven for the idle rich, where festivities never ceased for the bourgeoisie: games, Meuse Baths, regattas, gala evenings and, sometimes, difficult mornings. 120 years later, I check in for two days at Villa 1900, ready to immerse myself in this now forgotten universe. Diane and Olivier recreate this ambience, and I'm to experience the time when elegant people donned exuberant outfits, and men in top hats sipped whisky while attending piano concerts in a vast hall. People are out to be seen, enjoying the pleasures of the Meuse Baths. Waulsort, in the year 1900: the smart set of the aristocracy stay in luxury hotels along the River Meuse and extravagant villas with bell towers and colonial-style terraces. I urge you to take this incredible journey through time, back to the Waulsort of the early 20th century, when luxury hotels and mosan villas glorified the Belle Epoque. An incredible journey back in time at villa 1900 in Waulsort