Bouillon fortress castle, Godfrey's
1 hAll ages; dogs not allowedAll year
Castle · 1 h · City Pass €12 in winter, €16 from April to November · no dogs
From €12
Book
From BrusselsCar · 2 h
City Pass€12 winter · €16 April–November
Birds of prey3 shows a day · February–November
Kayak1 to 5 h
Best timeApr – Oct
What to do
What to do in Bouillon
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
The birds-of-prey ballet in the main courtyard
30 min22 February to 11 November, every day at 11:30, 14:00 and 15:30; at 17:00 on weekends in spring and September and every day in July and August
Show · 30 min · included in the City Pass + · from late February to 11 November
Scriptura Museum, La Collection and Bouillon Medieval Experience
1 h 30All year
Museums · 1–2 h · included in the City Pass · in the town, at the foot of the castle
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Bouillon, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Bouillon
From April to October, with the birds-of-prey show, kayaking and the Light Odyssey; in July and August there is one more falconry show. In summer the Medieval Festival is held. From mid-November to March the castle stays open with the winter City Pass, without birds of prey.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Bouillon your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Bouillon and the Semois by car
Bouillon is about two hours from Brussels on the E411, and the car is the way to see it: the Semois viewpoints, Rochehaut and the kayak descent are spread across the valley. With one night, the trip is much more comfortable.
110–190 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHôtel de la Poste, in…
- DrivingE411 Brussels–Luxembourg and N89
- Where to eatLa Petite Etable, at Rochehaut…
- ServicesCastle information and City Pass
Where to sleep
- Hôtel de la Poste, in the centre, opposite the castle
- Auberge de Rochehaut, above the valley, with half board
Driving
- E411 Brussels–Luxembourg and N89
- Bouillon–Rochehaut and Botassart, about 15 minutes each
Where to eat
- La Petite Etable, at Rochehaut, open on Sunday
- La Diligence, at the Hôtel de la Poste
Services
- Castle information and City Pass
Flight to Brussels or Charleroi and car to Bouillon
For Bouillon, fly to Charleroi (CRL) or to Brussels-Zaventem (BRU), both with direct flights from Spain, and hire a car: from Charleroi it is about two hours via Namur and the E411; from Zaventem, a little more. Luxembourg airport (LUX) is an hour and a quarter away and also has flights from Spain. There is no train to Bouillon.
- Getting thereBrussels South Charleroi (CRL): hire…
- Getting aroundCar for the Semois valley
- Where to sleepHôtel de la Poste, in…
- ServicesCastle information
Getting there
- Brussels South Charleroi (CRL): hire car, about two hours
- Brussels-Zaventem (BRU): hire car on the E411
- Luxembourg (LUX): hire car, about an hour and a quarter
Getting around
- Car for the Semois valley
- On foot around Bouillon, from the hotel to the castle
Where to sleep
- Hôtel de la Poste, in the centre
Services
- Castle information
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Bouillon for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Bouillon with children
Bouillon is a real castle for children: passages, staircases in the rock, cannons and a birds-of-prey show in which birds fly over the audience. Around it, the Semois valley has a short kayak stretch from age 4.
- What works bestThe castle, with an audio…
- Where to sleepAuberge de Rochehaut, with family…
- Where to eatLa Petite Etable, with a…
- Bear in mindDogs are not allowed in…
What works best
- The castle, with an audio guide or visit booklet
- The birds-of-prey ballet, 30 minutes, from February to November
- The Poupehan–Frahan kayak, one hour, from age 4
- The Giant's Tomb viewpoint
Where to sleep
- Auberge de Rochehaut, with family gîtes and an animal park next door
Where to eat
- La Petite Etable, with a farm burger
- The Napoleon bar, with a children's menu
Bear in mind
- Dogs are not allowed in the castle
- Staircases and dark areas: not for pushchairs
- For ages 4 to 12 the City Pass costs €9.50 in winter and €12 from April to November
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hôtel de la Poste, Relais de Napoléon III
Why we like it: Historic hotel from 1730 in the centre of Bouillon, on the banks of the Semois, with more than 60 rooms, many with a view of the castle.
Auberge de Rochehaut
Why we like it: The Boreux family's hotel restaurant at Rochehaut, above the Semois, with gourmet stays, a tavern, gîtes and an animal park.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Bouillon
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
La Petite Etable
What to order: the Limousin beef stew with Orval beer or the farm's matured pork chop
Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00–15:00 and 18:00–21:00 · Sunday without a break · closed Tuesday and Wednesday
La Diligence, at the Hôtel de la Poste
What to order: the three-course seasonal bistro menu; for something light, the Napoleon bar
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Bouillon
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
50.13° N · 5.19° E
Caves of Han (Han-sur-Lesse)
By planeBy carCar-free
50.00° N · 5.72° E
Bastogne
By carCar-free
50.26° N · 4.91° E
Dinant
By planeCar-freeBy car
50.35° N · 5.46° E
Durbuy and La Roche-en-Ardenne
By carBy plane
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Buy the City Pass +
From April to November, the price difference brings you the birds of prey and the Light Odyssey.
- 2Check the river
Before booking the kayak, check the water level on the Semois Kayaks website.
- 3Comfortable footwear
The castle has stone staircases and uneven floors.
Bouillon is an Ardennes village tucked into a meander of the Semois, almost on the French border, and it also has one of the most impressive medieval castles in Belgium. It belonged to Godfrey of Bouillon, the knight who pawned it to set off on the First Crusade in 1096 and ended up ruling Jerusalem. Today it combines a castle to explore through passages hollowed out of the rock, a birds-of-prey show in the courtyard, kayaking on one of the prettiest valleys in the country and viewpoints over forest-covered meanders.
How do you get there from Brussels?
By car, about two hours: the E411 towards Luxembourg to the Bouillon exit and the N89. There is no train, so it is a car trip. At two hours, a day trip is possible but long: Bouillon deserves at least one night.
What to see in Bouillon?
The castle takes an hour to visit, through rooms in the rock, staircases and courtyards. The only ticket is the City Pass, which does not expire and is also valid for the town museums: €12 in winter and, from April to 11 November, the City Pass + at €16, which adds the birds-of-prey ballet, 30 minutes of eagles, falcons and vultures in free flight in the main courtyard, three times a day. Dogs are not allowed in.
Below, the town stretches along the river and its bridges, with terraces facing the castle. If it rains, the Scriptura museum, La Collection and the Bouillon Medieval Experience are included in the same pass.
What about the Semois valley?
The Semois can be paddled by kayak: from Bouillon to Poupehan, about three and a half hours, or the one-hour family stretch from Poupehan to Frahan, from age 4, with Semois Kayaks, if the water level allows. Fifteen minutes away by car, the viewpoint at the Giant's Tomb, at Botassart, shows the most famous meander in the valley. Rochehaut, high up the valley, has another view over Frahan.
Where to eat and sleep?
In the centre, the Hôtel de la Poste, in a building from 1730 facing the castle, has more than 60 rooms and three places to eat, including La Diligence. At Rochehaut, the Auberge de Rochehaut offers half board with a gourmet dinner, and La Petite Etable, from the same family, serves Limousin beef from its farm and is open on Sunday from 11:00 to 21:00.
What to combine it with?
Bouillon is about 45 minutes from Bastogne and from Orval Abbey, and an hour and a quarter from Dinant. Across the border, Sedan has the largest fortress in Europe, 20 minutes away.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Brussels to Bouillon?
About two hours by car on the E411; there is no direct train.
How much does Bouillon castle cost?
€12 with the winter City Pass and €16 with the City Pass + from April to November, with the birds of prey.
What time is the birds-of-prey show?
At 11:30, 14:00 and 15:30, from 22 February to 11 November, and at 17:00 on spring weekends and in summer.
Can you kayak the Semois?
Yes, from Bouillon to Poupehan or to Frahan, or a one-hour stretch for families, depending on the water level.
Can you take a dog into the castle?
No, they are not allowed because of the birds of prey.