Discover Durbuy by playing! Escape game – The alchemist

Small town, big mystery. The Alchemist turns Durbuy into a walking puzzle, asking you to investigate a village girl accused of witchcraft while exploring the town’s streets. I like the mix of story and sightseeing, and I like that the game adds historical facts and a clear reason to move from one part of town to another. The main drawback is difficulty: some groups may finish in about an hour, even though the activity is advertised at roughly two hours.

You play as an alchemist gathering evidence from witnesses connected to the accusation against Josyne. Along the way, you solve puzzles, make a choice about whether to defend her or support the witchcraft charge, and receive help through the Coddy app if you get stuck. Because the game is private, your group can work at its own pace without strangers joining in.

Key points to know before you book

• Durbuy becomes the game board: The route sends you through the streets of one of Belgium’s smallest towns instead of keeping you inside a themed room.
• The mystery centers on Josyne: You investigate why a village girl has been accused of witchcraft and decide how to respond to the evidence.
• The route is circular: You may pass through parts of Durbuy more than once, which is practical in a compact town but can feel repetitive.
• The puzzles suit families: The questions add a challenge without requiring specialist knowledge, though some adults may find them fairly easy.
• The price is per group: At $23.66 for up to six people, the activity offers strong value for a full group, especially compared with a traditional guided tour.
• You need your own phone: The smartphone and its battery are not supplied, so arrive with a charged device and enough power for about two hours.

Turning Durbuy into an escape room

The Alchemist uses a simple but effective idea: take the basic structure of an escape game and spread it across an old town. Instead of searching one locked room, you follow a story through Durbuy’s public streets, using clues and solving tasks as you go.

That format gives the activity two jobs. It entertains you, but it also helps you notice the town. The route includes facts about Durbuy, so you are not simply walking from puzzle to puzzle with your eyes fixed on a screen. The best parts should encourage you to look around, compare details, and discuss your answer with the rest of your group.

I especially like this arrangement for families. Children get a mission, while adults get a reason to pay attention to the town’s buildings and streets. A normal walk can lose a child’s interest after ten minutes. A witchcraft mystery gives the walk a purpose.

There is one trade-off. Durbuy is small, so the route cannot spread endlessly through different districts. One part of the game is called a circular walk, and passing through the same area more than once is part of the design. If you expect constant forward movement, the route may feel as if it is sending you around in circles. If you treat the repeated streets as part of a compact town tour, the issue is less serious.

The Josyne mystery gives the walk a purpose

The story begins with a strange accusation: a village girl named Josyne has been accused of witchcraft. Your role is not simply to solve abstract riddles. You are an alchemist investigating the claim and trying to understand why it was made.

That detail matters because it gives the puzzles a human question behind them. You are collecting information from witnesses, testing clues, and working toward a judgment. At the end, you must choose whether to defend Josyne or support the accusation. The decision gives the activity a little more shape than a list of unrelated challenges.

I would approach the story as a group discussion rather than a race. Read each clue aloud. Let children suggest answers. If one person controls the phone and everyone else trails behind, much of the fun disappears. The private format makes it easy to share the work between adults and children.

The game is offered in English, which makes it useful for international visitors. The app guides you through the adventure, and clues appear at each step to help you continue. Coddy also provides live chat support through the app, available seven days a week. That safety net should reduce the frustration that can ruin a puzzle game.

Starting at Place aux Foires

The activity begins at Place aux Foires, Pl. aux Foires, 6940 Durbuy. This is the point to enter into your navigation app before you arrive, particularly because the experience information identifies Liège as the location while giving Durbuy as the actual start point. For this activity, Durbuy is the practical destination.

You do not meet a guide for a formal introduction. The game works through your phone, so your group begins at the meeting point and follows the instructions from there. That offers freedom. You can start within the advertised operating window rather than being tied to a fixed departure with a larger group.

The listed opening period runs from April 3, 2021, through March 22, 2027, with hours shown as Monday through Sunday, 12:00 AM to 11:30 PM. Those are very broad hours, so you should still check your booking details for any date-specific instructions. Starting in daylight may make it easier to read clues and notice the town around you, though the supplied information does not promise that every puzzle works equally well after dark.

You should also bring a fully charged smartphone. The phone is not included, and neither is its battery, so this is not an activity where you can arrive empty-handed and expect equipment to be provided. If your battery is unreliable, bring a portable charger.

Following the route through Durbuy

The listed itinerary identifies Anticline as a stop. The wider route is described as a walk through Durbuy, with clues from various witnesses leading you through the town. Since the game is designed as an urban activity rather than a vehicle tour, comfortable shoes are sensible, although no special equipment is listed.

Anticline is part of the route’s sightseeing side. It gives the game a physical point to reach and a place where the story and the town meet. You may find that the most rewarding moments come when you stop treating each location as a puzzle station and take a few seconds to look at the setting itself.

The route ends back at the meeting point. That makes planning easy. You do not need to arrange a taxi from a distant finish or keep track of where you left a car. It also helps you fit the activity around another Durbuy visit, since you return to the same general starting area.

A circular route has both strengths and weaknesses. You get repeated chances to orient yourself in a small town, and you are unlikely to miss the central area. On the other hand, you may feel that the route lacks variety. One piece of direct feedback described the walk as going around in circles, while still finding the activity fun. That is a fair warning, not a fatal flaw.

How difficult are the puzzles?

The puzzle level appears moderate and uneven. One group found the search tasks harder than expected and considered the challenge worthwhile. Another group finished in about an hour and felt the riddles were not demanding enough. Both reactions can be true, because puzzle difficulty depends on age, language, group size, and how quickly you spot clues.

I would expect the game to work best for mixed-age groups that want a shared activity rather than a serious escape-room test. Children can take part in finding clues and suggesting answers. Adults can keep the group moving and use the app when a puzzle stalls.

If you are an experienced escape-game player, you may want a more demanding challenge. The Alchemist is also a city tour, so its puzzles must remain workable while you are outside, moving between locations, and dealing with normal public spaces. That usually means the game favors accessibility over elaborate, difficult mechanisms.

The clues at each step are helpful for keeping the story moving. You can also contact support through live chat in the Coddy app. I see this as a major advantage for families, because a child’s enthusiasm can disappear quickly if the group is stuck on one question for twenty minutes.

A family-friendly history walk

The activity includes facts about Durbuy, which adds value beyond the game itself. You are not booking a formal history lecture, and no guide is present to explain every building. Still, the questions give you a reason to notice details that might otherwise pass by.

One review specifically praised the mix of a fun circular walk, facts about Durbuy, and suitability for children. That combination is the strongest case for booking. You get a light city tour, a story, and a group challenge in one outing.

I would not choose this as your only way to learn Durbuy. The information is delivered as part of the game, so it is likely to be brief and tied to the clues. But it works well as an introduction, especially if your group is not eager to join a conventional guided walk.

The activity also lets you decide how much attention to give the setting. You can hurry from one answer to the next, or pause when a location catches your eye. The app sets the task, but your group controls the pace.

Price and value for a group of six

The listed price is $23.66 per group of up to six people. That is a strong price if you fill the group. Divided six ways, it comes to just under four dollars per person, making it one of the more affordable ways to add structure to a Durbuy visit.

The value is less striking for a small group. Two people pay the same group price, so the per-person cost rises. Even then, you are paying for a private activity rather than a shared tour, and the game can occupy about two hours according to the advertised duration.

You should also account for what is not included. Food and drinks are not part of the price. Your smartphone and battery are your responsibility. Those exclusions are easy to manage, but they matter when you are comparing the total cost with other activities.

The game may last closer to one hour for a fast group. I would not book it solely because you need a guaranteed two-hour program. Book it because you want a flexible town walk with a mystery, and treat the two-hour figure as an approximate maximum for a careful group.

Private play, support, and practical comfort

Only your group takes part, which is a useful feature for families and friends. You can discuss answers openly, let younger players take the lead, and stop briefly without worrying about slowing down strangers.

The experience is offered in English. Confirmation is provided at booking, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation. No special fitness requirement is listed.

The activity runs outdoors on the streets of Durbuy, so weather can affect your comfort. The supplied information does not describe a weather plan or indoor alternative. I would check the forecast and dress for a walking activity.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. A cancellation within 24 hours is not refunded, and changes made during that period are not accepted. The cut-off uses local time, so check the clock carefully if your plans are uncertain.

Who should book The Alchemist?

I would recommend it most to families with children, couples who enjoy solving puzzles together, and friends who want a low-cost activity between meals and sightseeing. It is also a good choice if you prefer exploring independently rather than joining a scheduled guide.

The activity suits you if you like a clear story, light challenges, and the freedom to move at your own speed. The English option and in-app help make it approachable for international visitors.

I would hesitate if your main goal is a hard escape-room challenge. The puzzles may be too easy for experienced players, and a quick group could finish in about an hour. I would also think twice if repeated streets bother you, because Durbuy’s compact size shapes the route.

Should you book it?

Book The Alchemist if you want to see Durbuy while giving your group a shared mission. The best value comes with four to six people, a charged phone, and a willingness to enjoy the walk as much as the answers.

Skip it if you need a highly difficult puzzle experience or a formal guide explaining every part of the town. For most families, though, the combination of Josyne’s witchcraft mystery, local facts, private play, and a price of $23.66 per group makes this a sensible add-on to a Durbuy day.

FAQ

Where does The Alchemist escape game start?

It starts at Place aux Foires, Pl. aux Foires, 6940 Durbuy, Belgium.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Durbuy.

How long does the escape game take?

The advertised duration is approximately two hours. One group completed it in about one hour, so your actual time may be shorter depending on how quickly you solve the puzzles.

Is the experience available in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

How many people can join one group?

The price covers one group of up to six people. It is a private activity, so only your group participates.

What is included in the price?

The price includes seven-day online support, the city game, and a summary of your adventure with photos at the end. Food, drinks, a smartphone, and a battery are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes during that period are not accepted.