# A weekend in Bouillon and the Semois, two hours from Brussels One day for Bouillon castle, its birds of prey and its museums, a night facing the Semois, and another for kayaking down the river and looking out over the Giant's Tomb. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/bouillon/itineraries/weekend-in-the-semois · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Dónde: Bouillon 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? WhatHow muchNote City Pass +€16€12 for ages 4 to 12; castle, birds of prey and museums Castle audioguide€2.501 h 30 Kayak on the SemoisDepends on the stretchBook with Semois Kayaks Lunch at La Petite Etable€25–35Limousin 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. ## El plan ### Saturday · 08:30 · Drive to Bouillon About two hours along the E411 towards Luxembourg and the N89. ### Saturday · 11:00 · The castle An hour through the passages in the rock, with the City Pass +. Dogs are not allowed in. ### Saturday · 14:00 · The ballet of the birds of prey Thirty minutes in the main courtyard; there is another show at 15:30. ### Saturday · 15:00 · The museums The Scriptura museum, La Collection and the Bouillon Medieval Experience, with the same pass. ### Saturday · 19:30 · Dinner at La Diligence Franco-Belgian cooking at the Hôtel de la Poste, facing the castle. ### Saturday · 22:00 · Night at the Hôtel de la Poste In a building from 1730 on the banks of the Semois. ### Sunday · 09:30 · Kayak on the Semois From Bouillon to Poupehan, about three and a half hours, with Semois Kayaks, if the water level allows. ### Sunday · 13:30 · Lunch at La Petite Etable In Rochehaut, above the valley; on Sunday it is open without a break from 11:00 to 21:00. ### Sunday · 16:00 · The Giant's Tomb The Botassart viewpoint, about 20 minutes away, and back to Brussels. ## Un consejo más 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. ## Cuándo no ir Going from mid-November to March expecting birds of prey: in winter there is no show and no Light Odyssey. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### 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. ## Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Hôtel de la Poste, Relais de Napoléon III**: 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**: 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. ## Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Hôtel de la Poste, Relais de Napoléon III**: 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**: 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.