Coo Waterfall
Belgium'S Best Known Waterfall, Created By Monks Who Cut A River Loop In The 18th Century, With The Small Plopsa Coo Park, A Chairlift And Kayaks Beside It · Coo, Liege Province
The Coo Waterfall, the Cascade de Coo, is a small but famous double waterfall on the Ambleve river in the hills of Liege Province, French-speaking Wallonia, between Stavelot and Trois-Ponts. Its story is part of the appeal: the monks of nearby Stavelot abbey are said to have cut through a narrow neck of land in the 18th century to shorten a loop of the river, creating a second fall beside the natural one - the date and details vary between sources. The falls are often given as about 15 m high, and they are best after rain. Around them has grown a small resort: Plopsa Coo, a compact amusement park with a chairlift to a viewpoint over the valley, kayak rental down the Ambleve to Trois-Ponts, cafes, frites and souvenir shops. It suits families with young children, kayakers and anyone touring Spa, Stavelot and the Ambleve valley. The honest caveat: it is small and touristy, you see the falls themselves in ten minutes, summer weekends are crowded, and it is best combined with other stops rather than made a destination.
Coo, Stavelot, on the Ambleve river between Stavelot and Trois-Ponts, Coo, Liege Province, Belgium
The waterfall itself can be seen at any time from the bridge and riverside, and costs nothing. Plopsa Coo and its chairlift usually open daily in summer, and on weekends and school holidays in spring and autumn, with most of the winter closed - check the park's current calendar. Kayak rental on the Ambleve runs roughly April to October and depends on water levels. Getting there: by car, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Brussels and about 45 minutes from Liege, with paid car parks by the falls that fill on summer weekends. By train, SNCB runs trains on the line from Liege towards Gouvy with a small halt at Coo and a station at Trois-Ponts about 5 km away; weekend service is thin, so check times. Book Plopsa Coo tickets online ahead for summer weekends, and book kayaks a few days ahead in July and August. There is no swimming at the falls.