# Caves of Han (Han-sur-Lesse) One of the great caves of Europe and a 250-hectare park with bears, wolves and lynx, at Han-sur-Lesse, an hour and a half from Brussels. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/caves-of-han · Revisado: 2026-11-12 At Han-sur-Lesse, a village in the Famenne at the gateway to the Ardennes, the river Lesse disappears underground into the Belvaux chasm and reappears on the other side of a hill. Inside, it has carved out one of the largest show caves in Europe, with enormous chambers, stalactites and an underground river. Above ground, a 250-hectare park gathers European wildlife in semi-freedom: bears, wolves, lynx, bison and wolverines. It is the big day trip with children from Brussels, and with one night it can be combined with castles and space. ## How do you get there from Brussels? By car, about an hour and a half, some 120 km on the E411 towards Luxembourg, exit 23 (Wellin). The site has no car park: leave the car in the municipal car parks in the centre, at €7 a day. By train and bus, about two hours: a direct train to Rochefort-Jemelle in an hour and a half and TEC bus 29 to the church in Han. If you fly into Charleroi, Han is 95 km away. ## What to see in a day? Buy the PassHan online with a date: cave and park for €41.50 (€31.50 for ages 4 to 11). Start first thing with the cave: the Discovery tour lasts an hour and a quarter, covers 1.6 km and 367 steps at 9 °C and ends with the light and sound show. If your children are older and walk well, the Journey tour, at 10:00, crosses the whole cave in two hours following the river. Have lunch at Le Pavillon, next to the cave exit, with a terrace over the Lesse, or at the Restaurant Arthur, in the village. In the afternoon, the wildlife park, by safari bus or on foot, passing the Belvaux chasm. If you have energy left, Tree Experience has five treetop circuits from age 4. ## What about with a night? Sleep at Au Lit des Ours, in the centre of the village, at the Mercure, with a pool, or, for a night you will not forget, in the Tree Tents, tents hung in the trees inside the park, with dinner, breakfast and a walk with a ranger. The next day, the Lavaux-Sainte-Anne castle, a four-towered fifteenth-century fortress 8 km away, or the Euro Space Center, half an hour away, an astronaut's day with simulators and a planetarium. ## When to go? The site is open from spring to 11 November, with hours that change every month. In 2026 it closed for the season on 12 November; on the weekends from 14 November to 13 December and from 9 to 31 January there are exclusive guided tours of the cave and the park, and it opens over the Christmas holidays, from 19 December to 3 January. In summer, avoid the queues before 11:00 and after 14:00. The village restaurants close in winter. ## Han and the rest of the Ardennes Han is half an hour from Dinant, where you can kayak the Lesse. Bastogne, with the museum of the Battle of the Bulge, is an hour away. From Namur it is 55 km. ## Dónde está - Cerca: Dinant (a 24.8 km), Durbuy and La Roche-en-Ardenne (a 31.7 km), Bouillon (a 38.0 km), Bastogne (a 40.1 km) ## Qué hacer - **The Han cave, Discovery tour** (1 h 15 · 1.6 km · Once the child walks alone; not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs · €29 adults · €22 for ages 4 to 11 · free under 4 · PassHan with the park, €41.50 and €31.50): The Lesse goes under the rock at the Belvaux chasm and, over centuries, has carved the Han cave beneath the Boine massif: galleries, enormous chambers, stalactites, stalagmites and an underground river. The Discovery tour covers the most beautiful chambers in an hour and a quarter and ends with the light and sound show Origin. The visit It is 1.6 km on foot and 367 steps, at 9 °C all year round: bring a coat and walking shoes. It is guided, in French and Dutch. Pushchairs are not allowed: bring a baby carrier and leave the pushchair in the car or in the area next to the entrance, padlocked. It is not wheelchair accessible, there are no toilets inside and photos without flash are only allowed in the large chambers. Dogs may enter, on a lead. Tickets and times €29 for adults and €22 for ages 4 to 11; free under 4. The PassHan, cave and wildlife park, costs €41.50 and €31.50, and each visit can be on a different day. It is bought online with a date. Departures are at fixed times or every half hour depending on the month. The 2026 season ended on 12 November; there are winter visits on the weekends from 14 November to 13 December and from 9 to 31 January, at 10:00 and 13:30. - **The Han wildlife park, on foot or by safari bus** (2 h · Families with children of all ages; on foot or by safari bus · €29 adults · €22 for ages 4 to 11 · free under 4): The Han park covers 250 hectares of forest and meadow in the Famenne-Ardenne UNESCO Geopark, and brings together more than 650 animals of European species in semi-freedom. It is the only park in Belgium with the European "big five": bison, wolf, brown bear, lynx and wolverine. It opened in 1970 and takes part in conservation and reintroduction programmes. On foot or by safari bus You tour it by safari bus, with departures at fixed times or every hour depending on the month, or on foot along a path, open from 10:00 until early afternoon. Along the way is the Belvaux chasm, where the Lesse disappears underground to form the cave. Tickets €29 for adults and €22 for ages 4 to 11; free under 4. The PassHan, with the cave, costs €41.50 and €31.50. On winter weekends there are exclusive guided visits at 13:45, and from 26 to 30 December the Frozen Christmas in the park. - **The whole Han cave, Journey tour by safari bus** (2 h · 2 km · Teenagers and adults who walk well; not suitable for pushchairs · €29 adults · €22 for ages 4 to 11): The Journey tour is the complete cave: a safari bus takes you up through the wildlife park to the cave's historic entrance and, with the guide, you cross the whole cave following the underground river to its exit, with the Origin show. It is two hours, 2 km and 510 steps. It leaves once a day, at 10:00, in season. It costs the same as the Discovery, €29 and €22. The same rules apply: 9 °C, no pushchairs, no wheelchairs, no toilets inside. - **Tree Experience, the treetop adventure circuit at Han** (1 h 30 · From age 4 on the low circuits; those at 10 m high, for the daring · €25 per person · with the cave or the park, €44 · PassHan+ with all three, €50): Tree Experience is the adventure circuit of the Han site, opened in 2026. It has five routes: the Young Boar and Wolf Cub ones, easy and at ground level, for children from age 4; the Bear Cub one, at about two metres, and the Owl and Bat ones, at about ten metres, for the most daring. All begin and end with 140-metre zip lines, and there is a climbing wall and a free-fall jump. Price and hours €25 per person, child or adult. Combined with the cave or the park, €44 (€37 for children); the PassHan+, with the three attractions, €50 (€40). It lasts about an hour and a half; the site advises doing it before midday. - **Euro Space Center, an astronaut's day at Transinne** (6 h · Families with children from about age 6 and teenagers · €36 adults · €34 over-65s · €32 children over 1.10 m · free for children under 1.10 m · €2 less booking in advance): The Euro Space Center, at Transinne, beside the E411, presents itself as the only space theme park in Europe. The "Astronaut Day" includes aptitude tests, simulators, a lunar and Martian walk, the Lunar·X, a free fall, a slide, the planetarium, the space show and a Martian village. Some activities, such as the multi-axis chair or the weightlessness wall, are only for the multi-day courses. Tickets and hours €36 for adults, €34 for over-65s and €32 for children over 1.10 m; below that height, free. Booking in advance saves you €2 per ticket. Open from 9:00 to 16:00 (last entry), but it closes for part of the winter: check the calendar on its website. Free parking, a self-service restaurant and a play area; animals are not allowed. - **Lavaux-Sainte-Anne castle** (1 h 30 · Families and adults): Lavaux-Sainte-Anne castle is one of the most famous buildings in Wallonia and is classified as major heritage of the region. It began in 1244 as a tower to watch over the Roman road from Bavay to Nassogne; Jean II of Berlo turned it around 1450 into a fortress of three towers joined by walls, which withstood the siege by the men of Dinant in 1464, and the fourth tower came in 1500. Today you visit the castle and its wetland area. The visit Tickets are bought at its online ticket office, where the calendar is. It has a large shop at reception. It is about 8 km west of Han-sur-Lesse, by car. ## Dónde comer - **Le Pavillon** (Restaurant, Han-sur-Lesse · cave exit, €€). Qué pedir: the Ardennes discovery board, the grilled trout or the carbonade - **Restaurant Arthur** (Restaurant, Han-sur-Lesse · Au Lit des Ours, €€). Qué pedir: the evening three-course menu or a traditional dish at lunchtime ## By plane: Flight to Charleroi or Brussels and car to Han The most practical airport for Han is Charleroi (CRL), with low-cost flights from several Spanish cities: the site is 95 km away, about an hour and ten minutes by car. From Brussels-Zaventem (BRU), with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona, you go by train via Brussels to Rochefort-Jemelle and bus, or by hire car in a little under two hours. Luxembourg (LUX) is 110 km away. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Au Lit des Ours** (Small hotel): Au Lit des Ours is in the heart of the village of Han-sur-Lesse, a step from the entrance to the wildlife park and the cave: the hotel plays with the idea of waking up hearing the park's bears and lynx. It has cosy, comfort and family rooms and a suite, the Arthur restaurant and the Cristiano pizzeria. The family room For two adults and two children: a king-size bed in the main room and a bunk bed in a separate room, so the parents can sleep a little longer. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 11:00. Pets are accepted. They have packages with admission to the Han site and with half board. - **Mercure Han-sur-Lesse** (Hotel): The Mercure Han-sur-Lesse is on the rue Joseph Lamotte, in the centre of the village, a few minutes' walk from the cave and the wildlife park. It is Han's big hotel: 69 standard rooms and 48 suites, with a pool, restaurant, bar and meeting rooms, and a children's corner. The practical side Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out before 11:00. It has parking, wifi, air conditioning, wheelchair access and a shuttle on request, with a supplement. It accepts animals. From the TEC bus 29 stop, next to the church, you can walk. ### Servicios - **Train to Rochefort-Jemelle and TEC bus 29 to Han**: Direct train from Brussels to Rochefort-Jemelle in 1 h 30 · TEC bus 29 to the church in Han, 10 km away ## By car: Han and the Famenne by car By car, Han-sur-Lesse is about an hour and a half from Brussels on the E411, exit 23, and from there everything is close: Lavaux-Sainte-Anne castle 8 km away, Rochefort ten minutes and the Euro Space Center half an hour. It is the best way to make an Ardennes weekend with children. Presupuesto orientativo: 110–200 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Au Lit des Ours** (Small hotel): Au Lit des Ours is in the heart of the village of Han-sur-Lesse, a step from the entrance to the wildlife park and the cave: the hotel plays with the idea of waking up hearing the park's bears and lynx. It has cosy, comfort and family rooms and a suite, the Arthur restaurant and the Cristiano pizzeria. The family room For two adults and two children: a king-size bed in the main room and a bunk bed in a separate room, so the parents can sleep a little longer. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 11:00. Pets are accepted. They have packages with admission to the Han site and with half board. - **Tree Tents in the Han park** (Campsite, desde 210 € / night): The Tree Tents are tents suspended in the trees inside the Han wildlife park, with a view over the old Lesse valley. From the tent you see deer, aurochs, fallow deer, Przewalski horses and mouflon in the meadow, especially at dawn and dusk. What is included The night, a full dinner with aperitif, barbecue, drinks and dessert, a breakfast basket, an exclusive walk with a ranger through part of the valley and the PassHan (cave and park, without the Journey tour); Tree Experience is €8.50. It costs €210 per adult, €105 for ages 4 to 11 and €25 per child under 4, with a minimum of €420 per tent. Season In 2026 they opened from 4 April to 7 November, on weekends, public holidays and Belgian school holidays, and some days of the deer rut in September and October. The 2027 dates are published on its website. - **Mercure Han-sur-Lesse** (Hotel): The Mercure Han-sur-Lesse is on the rue Joseph Lamotte, in the centre of the village, a few minutes' walk from the cave and the wildlife park. It is Han's big hotel: 69 standard rooms and 48 suites, with a pool, restaurant, bar and meeting rooms, and a children's corner. The practical side Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out before 11:00. It has parking, wifi, air conditioning, wheelchair access and a shuttle on request, with a supplement. It accepts animals. From the TEC bus 29 stop, next to the church, you can walk. ### Servicios - **Han-sur-Lesse municipal car parks**: In the centre of the village, along the rue de la Lesse · €7 a day · the site has no car park of its own ## Car-free: Han by train and bus You can reach Han well without a car: a direct train from Brussels to Rochefort-Jemelle in an hour and a half and TEC bus 29 to the village church. From there, the cave, the park and the hotel are on foot. What you cannot reach without a car are Lavaux castle and the Euro Space Center. Presupuesto orientativo: 100–180 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Au Lit des Ours** (Small hotel): Au Lit des Ours is in the heart of the village of Han-sur-Lesse, a step from the entrance to the wildlife park and the cave: the hotel plays with the idea of waking up hearing the park's bears and lynx. It has cosy, comfort and family rooms and a suite, the Arthur restaurant and the Cristiano pizzeria. The family room For two adults and two children: a king-size bed in the main room and a bunk bed in a separate room, so the parents can sleep a little longer. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 11:00. Pets are accepted. They have packages with admission to the Han site and with half board. - **Tree Tents in the Han park** (Campsite, desde 210 € / night): The Tree Tents are tents suspended in the trees inside the Han wildlife park, with a view over the old Lesse valley. From the tent you see deer, aurochs, fallow deer, Przewalski horses and mouflon in the meadow, especially at dawn and dusk. What is included The night, a full dinner with aperitif, barbecue, drinks and dessert, a breakfast basket, an exclusive walk with a ranger through part of the valley and the PassHan (cave and park, without the Journey tour); Tree Experience is €8.50. It costs €210 per adult, €105 for ages 4 to 11 and €25 per child under 4, with a minimum of €420 per tent. Season In 2026 they opened from 4 April to 7 November, on weekends, public holidays and Belgian school holidays, and some days of the deer rut in September and October. The 2027 dates are published on its website. - **Mercure Han-sur-Lesse** (Hotel): The Mercure Han-sur-Lesse is on the rue Joseph Lamotte, in the centre of the village, a few minutes' walk from the cave and the wildlife park. It is Han's big hotel: 69 standard rooms and 48 suites, with a pool, restaurant, bar and meeting rooms, and a children's corner. The practical side Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out before 11:00. It has parking, wifi, air conditioning, wheelchair access and a shuttle on request, with a supplement. It accepts animals. From the TEC bus 29 stop, next to the church, you can walk. ### Servicios - **Train to Rochefort-Jemelle and TEC bus 29 to Han**: Direct train from Brussels to Rochefort-Jemelle in 1 h 30 · TEC bus 29 to the church in Han, 10 km away ## As a family: Han with children Han is probably the most complete day trip with children in Belgium: a cave with an underground river, a park of bears and wolves toured by safari bus, a treetop circuit and, half an hour away, a space park. ### What works best The cave, on the hour-and-a-quarter Discovery tour The wildlife park, best by safari bus with little ones Tree Experience, from age 4 The Euro Space Center, free for children under 1.10 m A night in the Tree Tents, for older children ### Where to sleep Family room with bunk beds at Au Lit des Ours Tree Tents, inside the park ### Where to eat Le Pavillon, with a terrace over the Lesse ### Bear in mind Pushchairs are not allowed in the cave: bring a baby carrier Inside it is 9 °C all year round There are no toilets in the cave ### Qué hacer as a family - The Han cave, Discovery tour - The Han wildlife park, on foot or by safari bus - The whole Han cave, Journey tour by safari bus - Tree Experience, the treetop adventure circuit at Han - Euro Space Center, an astronaut's day at Transinne - Lavaux-Sainte-Anne castle ## With young children: Han with small children With small children, Han works if you choose well: the park by safari bus and the low Tree Experience circuits rather than the long cave tour. ### What works best The park's safari bus, without walking The Young Boar and Wolf Cub circuits of Tree Experience, from age 4 The Discovery tour of the cave, in a baby carrier Free for under-4s at the site ### Where to sleep Au Lit des Ours, with a family room ### Where to eat Restaurant Arthur, with a kitchen without a break from 12:00 to 21:00 ### Bear in mind 367 steps in the cave and no pushchairs The Euro Space Center, for children from about age 6 ### Qué hacer with young children - The Han cave, Discovery tour - The Han wildlife park, on foot or by safari bus - Tree Experience, the treetop adventure circuit at Han ## With teenagers: Han with teenagers For teenagers, the combination is the complete cave, the high treetop circuits and the Euro Space Center with its simulators. ### What works best The Journey tour, two hours through the whole cave The Owl and Bat circuits of Tree Experience, at 10 m The Euro Space Center A night in the Tree Tents ### Where to sleep Tree Tents, inside the park ### Where to eat Le Pavillon ### Bear in mind The cave tours are in French and Dutch ### Qué hacer with teenagers - The Han cave, Discovery tour - The Han wildlife park, on foot or by safari bus - The whole Han cave, Journey tour by safari bus - Tree Experience, the treetop adventure circuit at Han - Euro Space Center, an astronaut's day at Transinne ## Consejos ### PassHan online and with a date It is compulsory to buy in advance, and with the pass you can see the cave and the park on different days. ### Coat and footwear 9 °C inside the cave all year round, 367 steps and wet floors. ### Baby carrier Pushchairs are not allowed in the cave. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How much does the Han cave cost? €29 for adults and €22 for ages 4 to 11; with the park, the PassHan costs €41.50 and €31.50. ### How long does it take from Brussels to Han-sur-Lesse? About an hour and a half by car and about two hours by train and bus. ### Can you visit the Han cave with a pushchair? No: there are 367 steps. Bring a baby carrier. ### Is it open in winter? Only at weekends with exclusive tours and over the Christmas holidays. ### Can you go with a dog? To the cave, yes, on a lead; check the park rules when you buy your ticket.