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.
Duration1 night
From BrusselsCar · 2 h
City Pass +€16 · April–November
Budget€180–280 pp
SeasonApril – October
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed to leave Brussels early on Saturday and return on Sunday afternoon, from April to October, with the City Pass + and the kayak. It is a car trip: there is no train to Bouillon.
Saturday
- 108:30Drive to Bouillon
About two hours along the E411 towards Luxembourg and the N89.
- 211:00The castle
An hour through the passages in the rock, with the City Pass +. Dogs are not allowed in.
- 314:00The ballet of the birds of prey
Thirty minutes in the main courtyard; there is another show at 15:30.
- 415:00The museums
The Scriptura museum, La Collection and the Bouillon Medieval Experience, with the same pass.
- 519:30Dinner at La Diligence
Franco-Belgian cooking at the Hôtel de la Poste, facing the castle.
- 622:00Night at the Hôtel de la Poste
In a building from 1730 on the banks of the Semois.
Sunday
- 109:30Kayak on the Semois
From Bouillon to Poupehan, about three and a half hours, with Semois Kayaks, if the water level allows.
- 213:30Lunch at La Petite Etable
In Rochehaut, above the valley; on Sunday it is open without a break from 11:00 to 21:00.
- 316:00The Giant's Tomb
The Botassart viewpoint, about 20 minutes away, and back to Brussels.
Bouillon is two hours from Brussels, too far to go and come back calmly in a day. With one night everything changes: on Saturday, Godfrey's castle, the ballet of the birds of prey and the museums, and dinner facing the river; on Sunday, the Semois by kayak in the morning, lunch on a farm in Rochehaut and the viewpoint over the valley's most famous meander before heading back.
What does it cost?
| What | How much | Note |
|---|---|---|
| City Pass + | €16 | €12 for ages 4 to 12; castle, birds of prey and museums |
| Castle audioguide | €2.50 | 1 h 30 |
| Kayak on the Semois | Depends on the stretch | Book with Semois Kayaks |
| Lunch at La Petite Etable | €25–35 | Limousin beef from the farm |
Where to stay?
The Hôtel de la Poste, in the centre, with rooms facing the castle. If you prefer the valley and a gourmet dinner, the Auberge de Rochehaut, from the same family as La Petite Etable, with half board.
Where to eat?
La Diligence on Saturday evening and La Petite Etable on Sunday lunchtime. For something quick on Saturday, the Napoléon bar at the Hôtel de la Poste.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
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
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
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
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingif you're flying
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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
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
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Check the Semois water level on the Semois Kayaks website before you leave: with the river low they offer another stretch, on the Chiers and the Meuse.
We'd skip it
Going from mid-November to March expecting birds of prey: in winter there is no show and no Light Odyssey.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does the getaway to Bouillon cost?
With hotel, castle, kayak and meals, between €180 and €280 per person.
Can it be done without a car?
Not in practice: Bouillon has no station.
Can it be done with children?
Yes: they love the castle and the birds of prey, and the Poupehan–Frahan kayak stretch is for children from age 4.