This 1923 original Belgian travel poster by O. Liedel was created for the Chemins de fer de l’État Belge (Belgian State Railways) to promote tourism to Remouchamps and its celebrated natural attraction, the Grottes de Remouchamps. Famous for their spectacular underground river — often described at the time as the longest navigable subterranean river in the world — the caves became a major destination for early twentieth-century travellers exploring Belgium by rail.
The composition highlights the dramatic entrance to the cave, where warm earthy tones contrast with the luminous reflections of water inside the cavern. A guided boat carrying visitors reinforces the sense of discovery and adventure, while the bold border and typography exemplify the striking graphic language typical of interwar railway publicity posters. These images were designed not only to inform but to inspire leisure travel at a time when rail tourism was expanding rapidly across Europe.
Produced during the golden age of illustrated travel advertising, the poster reflects how national railway companies actively shaped tourism by promoting scenic landscapes, historic towns, and natural wonders. Posters such as this played a crucial role in establishing Belgium’s Ardennes region as a destination for both domestic and international visitors.
Today, this 1923 Remouchamps railway poster is valued as both a decorative travel image and a document of early twentieth-century tourism promotion. Combining atmospheric illustration, regional identity, and transport history, it remains a desirable collectible for enthusiasts of vintage travel posters and European railway heritage.
Original Poster
Railway - Tourism - Belgium
The wonder of wonders, the longest navigable underground river in the world
Printed by Artistic lithograph in Bruges
Good condition, minor tears
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