Durbuy

Durbuy: the smallest town in Belgium

Durbuy lays claim to the title of smallest town in the world, and when you walk through its narrow streets, you understand why that story sticks. The historic centre is compact, almost miniature in scale, but the architecture is no less impressive for it. Medieval half-timbered houses, cobbled lanes running off in every direction, and the castle looking out over it all. The Ourthe winds right alongside. Together, these things make Durbuy a place that presents itself as a photo location.

Light and season

Autumn is at its best here. When the trees along the Ourthe turn colour, you get a combination of warm tones and grey stone that is hard to get wrong. The morning light comes in low over the hills and catches the facades on the market square at just the right angle. In summer, Durbuy is busy, very busy. Coaches, terraces packed with tourists, and little room to work quietly. Come early then, before nine. In winter and early spring you have the streets almost to yourself.

Compositions and focal lengths

The cobbled streets call for a slightly shorter focal length. Something between 24mm and 35mm works well for capturing the depth and texture of the street without distorting everything too much. For the castle in the background, you can position yourself on the far side of the Ourthe, a few hundred metres upstream. There you have enough distance for a compressing effect with an 85mm or something a little longer. The bridge over the Ourthe offers a classic viewpoint, but the back streets around the Rue Promenoir also produce some surprising through-the-gap views.

Practical

It is best to park outside the centre. There are car parks on the edge of town. The centre itself is largely pedestrianised. No permits are required for regular street photography. Durbuy is in the Belgian province of Luxemburg, a little over two hours from Wijchen. A combination with the Ourthe valley or the nearby rocks at Bomal is easy to arrange if you are already in the area.

Sources and further reading

• Officiële toeristische site van Durbuy
• Wikipedia: Durbuy