# Bouillon Godfrey of Bouillon's castle above the Semois: passages in the rock, a birds-of-prey show, kayaking round the meanders and viewpoints, two hours from Brussels. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/bouillon · Revisado: 2026-11-12 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. ## Dónde está - Cerca: Caves of Han (Han-sur-Lesse) (a 38.0 km), Bastogne (a 52.0 km), Dinant (a 53.1 km), Durbuy and La Roche-en-Ardenne (a 68.2 km) ## Qué hacer - **Bouillon fortress castle, Godfrey's** (1 h · All ages; dogs not allowed · City Pass: €12 adults, €9.50 for ages 4 to 12 (12 November–31 March) · City Pass +: €16 and €12 (1 April–11 November)): The Bouillon castle, on a rocky ridge surrounded by the Semois, is one of the oldest in Belgium and the city's great symbol. It belonged to Godfrey of Bouillon, who pawned it to finance his departure on the First Crusade in 1096. You explore it in an hour through passages, rooms cut into the rock, staircases and courtyards with cannons; with an audio guide, an hour and a half. The ticket The only ticket is the City Pass, which is also valid for the town's museums and does not expire: from 12 November to 31 March, €12 for adults and €9.50 for ages 4 to 12 and students; from 1 April to 11 November, the City Pass +, €16 and €12, which adds the birds-of-prey show and the Light Odyssey. Audio guide, €2.50. - **The birds-of-prey ballet in the main courtyard** (30 min · Included in the City Pass + and group tickets): In the main courtyard, master falconer Ivan, with more than 20 years at the castle, presents a show of about 30 minutes with eagles, falcons, vultures, owls, barn owls and sea eagles in free flight, with plenty of humour and a spectator or two as volunteers. There are three shows a day, at 11:30, 14:00 and 15:30, from 22 February to 11 November, and one more at 17:00 on weekends in April, May, June and September and every day in July and August. It may be cancelled in strong wind, heavy rain or extreme heat. - **Scriptura Museum, La Collection and Bouillon Medieval Experience** (1 h 30 · Included in the City Pass): Besides the castle, the City Pass includes the Scriptura museum, devoted to writing; La Collection, the former ducal museum, in a house in the old town, and the new Bouillon Medieval Experience. You can visit them another day with the same pass, which does not expire, or hand the coupons you do not use to someone else. They are the plan if it rains. - **Kayaking the Semois from Bouillon** (3 h 30 · Families on the Poupehan–Frahan stretch; fit adults for Bouillon–Frahan): The Semois traces tight meanders between forests as it leaves Bouillon, and can be paddled by kayak. Semois Kayaks, based in Poupehan, offers the classic descent from Bouillon to Poupehan, about three and a half hours, and extends it to Frahan, about five hours, with a picnic. For families with children from age 4, the Poupehan–Frahan stretch takes about an hour. Everything depends on the water: when the Semois is low, the company announces it on its website and takes its customers to paddle the Chiers and the Meuse. Book on its website or by phone. - **Giant's Tomb viewpoint, at Botassart** (30 min · Free): About 15 minutes by car north of Bouillon, beside the village of Botassart, a viewpoint looks out on the most photographed view of the Semois: the river almost completely encircles a forest-covered hill shaped like a burial mound, the Giant's Tomb. It is a short, free stop; go in the afternoon light, when the sun enters the valley. ## Dónde comer - **La Petite Etable** (Restaurant, Rochehaut · above the Semois, €€). Qué pedir: the Limousin beef stew with Orval beer or the farm's matured pork chop - **La Diligence, at the Hôtel de la Poste** (Restaurant, Bouillon · Place Saint-Arnould, €€€). Qué pedir: the three-course seasonal bistro menu; for something light, the Napoleon bar ## By car: 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. Presupuesto orientativo: 110–190 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Hôtel de la Poste, Relais de Napoléon III** (Hotel): The Hôtel de la Poste occupies a historic building from 1730 in the centre of Bouillon, on the banks of the Semois, and presents itself as a relais of Napoleon III. It has more than 60 rooms with classic decoration, and most have a view over the valley and the castle. The rooms There are single, standard, superior and premium rooms, junior suites, a grand suite and rooms in the tower. Downstairs, the La Diligence restaurant, the Napoleon bar and the BOM, in the cellars, with a terrace beside the river; there is also a conference room. Arrival and conditions Check-in from 15:00 to 18:00 and check-out from 8:00 to 11:00. Cancellation is free up to three days before arrival. From the hotel you walk up to the castle in about ten minutes. - **Auberge de Rochehaut** (Hotel): The Auberge de Rochehaut is the hotel complex of the Boreux family at Rochehaut, a village high up the Semois valley, about 15 minutes from Bouillon. Its promise is "eat well and sleep well": hotel, the gourmet restaurant L'Epi d'Or, a tavern, six gîtes for 4 to 16 people, aparthotels and, next door, an animal park, a brewery and an agricultural museum. Packages You can stay with breakfast, with half board and a four-course menu at L'Epi d'Or or three courses in the tavern, or on a gourmet stay with a seven-course menu. There is a 10% discount on three-night stays during the week, and from Monday to Friday the fourth night is free. The room with breakfast is booked only by phone or email. Arrival Rooms are available from 15:00 and must be vacated before 11:00. La Petite Etable, the restaurant of the family's farm, is next door. ### Servicios - **Getting to Bouillon by car from Brussels**: About two hours on the E411 towards Luxembourg and the N89; no direct train to Bouillon ## By plane: 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. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Hôtel de la Poste, Relais de Napoléon III** (Hotel): The Hôtel de la Poste occupies a historic building from 1730 in the centre of Bouillon, on the banks of the Semois, and presents itself as a relais of Napoleon III. It has more than 60 rooms with classic decoration, and most have a view over the valley and the castle. The rooms There are single, standard, superior and premium rooms, junior suites, a grand suite and rooms in the tower. Downstairs, the La Diligence restaurant, the Napoleon bar and the BOM, in the cellars, with a terrace beside the river; there is also a conference room. Arrival and conditions Check-in from 15:00 to 18:00 and check-out from 8:00 to 11:00. Cancellation is free up to three days before arrival. From the hotel you walk up to the castle in about ten minutes. - **Auberge de Rochehaut** (Hotel): The Auberge de Rochehaut is the hotel complex of the Boreux family at Rochehaut, a village high up the Semois valley, about 15 minutes from Bouillon. Its promise is "eat well and sleep well": hotel, the gourmet restaurant L'Epi d'Or, a tavern, six gîtes for 4 to 16 people, aparthotels and, next door, an animal park, a brewery and an agricultural museum. Packages You can stay with breakfast, with half board and a four-course menu at L'Epi d'Or or three courses in the tavern, or on a gourmet stay with a seven-course menu. There is a 10% discount on three-night stays during the week, and from Monday to Friday the fourth night is free. The room with breakfast is booked only by phone or email. Arrival Rooms are available from 15:00 and must be vacated before 11:00. La Petite Etable, the restaurant of the family's farm, is next door. ### Servicios - **Getting to Bouillon by car from Brussels**: About two hours on the E411 towards Luxembourg and the N89; no direct train to Bouillon ## As a family: 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 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 ### Qué hacer as a family - Bouillon fortress castle, Godfrey's - The birds-of-prey ballet in the main courtyard - Scriptura Museum, La Collection and Bouillon Medieval Experience - Kayaking the Semois from Bouillon - Giant's Tomb viewpoint, at Botassart ## Consejos ### Buy the City Pass + From April to November, the price difference brings you the birds of prey and the Light Odyssey. ### Check the river Before booking the kayak, check the water level on the Semois Kayaks website. ### Comfortable footwear The castle has stone staircases and uneven floors. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### 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.