# Dinant A collegiate church at the foot of a rock with a fortress, saxophones on the bridge and kayaking on the Lesse beneath Walzin castle. An hour and a half from Brussels, by train or by car. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/dinant · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Dinant is the other Belgium: that of Wallonia, French-speaking, of rocks and rivers instead of canals and brick. The town squeezes into a narrow strip between the Meuse and a hundred-metre cliff, with the bulb-spired collegiate church pressed against the rock and a fortress above. It is the day trip with the most nature from Brussels, and with one night it becomes a riverside getaway. ## How do you get there from Brussels? By train, about an hour and a half, via Namur. The station is five minutes' walk from the Saxophone Bridge. For kayaking, the train on the Lesse line stops at Gendron-Celles and at Anseremme, next to the start and the finish. By car, about an hour and a half on the E411. If you fly into Charleroi, Dinant is less than an hour away, closer than Brussels. With a car you can reach the citadel from above, with free parking. ## What to do in a day? In the morning, the citadel, with its augmented reality tour and the view of the valley; the cable car is closed for works, so you go up by the staircase next to the collegiate church or by car from above. Walk down to the collegiate church, the Saxophone Bridge and the house of Monsieur Sax, free. Have lunch on the Rue Grande and, in the afternoon, in season, take the 45-minute cruise on the Meuse or walk to the Bayard Rock. If you go between April and October and stay the night, the second day is for kayaking on the Lesse: 12 km from Gendron to Anseremme, two and a half hours, from age 5, passing beneath Walzin castle. The citadel sells a combined ticket with the cruise for €25. ## What about Leffe beer? Leffe was born at the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Leffe, in Dinant, and there is a museum dedicated to it in the town. We have not been able to confirm its opening hours or prices from an official source in November 2026: ask in Dinant before you go. ## Where to eat? La Broche, on the Rue Grande, next to the collegiate church, has a market menu at lunchtime for €33 and seasonal menus; it is open Friday to Monday at lunchtime. On the quayside and the Rue Grande there are brasseries and chip shops for eating without a reservation. For kayaking, take a picnic. ## Where to stay? The ibis Dinant Centre is on the banks of the Meuse, a few minutes from the centre, with a terrace on the river. The Hôtel Aquatel, in Anseremme, beside the Lesse, has family rooms for five, accepts small dogs and is next to the end of the kayak route. ## Dinant or the Ardennes? Dinant is the gateway to the Ardennes from Brussels. If you have a car and more days, continue south: Bastogne is an hour and a quarter away, with the museum of the Battle of the Bulge. From Brussels, Dinant is the best day of nature without leaving the country. ## Dónde está - Cerca: Namur (a 22.7 km), Caves of Han (Han-sur-Lesse) (a 24.8 km), Durbuy and La Roche-en-Ardenne (a 40.0 km), Villers-la-Ville Abbey (a 45.5 km) ## Qué hacer - **The Dinant citadel, above the Meuse** (1 h 30 · Families and all ages; without the cable car you climb the staircase or drive to the upper entrance · €15 adults · €13 ages 4 to 12 · with the 45-minute cruise, €25 and €20): The citadel crowns the hundred-metre rock that drops sheer over Dinant and the Meuse. It was fortified from the Middle Ages and the one you see today is the nineteenth-century Dutch one, with rooms that tell of the sieges, the occupation of 1914 and the life of the soldiers. At the top, the view over the collegiate church and the valley is the postcard of Dinant. Tickets It costs €15 for adults and €13 for ages 4 to 12, with the HistoPad, an augmented reality tablet that accompanies the visit, of about an hour and a half. The 3-in-1 option adds a 45-minute cruise on the Meuse to Anseremme: €25 and €20. Individuals buy at the ticket offices above or below, without booking; in high season you can book online at least 24 hours ahead. How to get up in 2026 The cable car is closed for a major refurbishment, with no reopening date. You go up on foot by the staircase that starts next to the collegiate church, a serious effort, or by car to the upper entrance, which has free parking. - **The collegiate church, the Saxophone Bridge and Monsieur Sax's house** (1 h · All ages · Free): The Gothic collegiate church of Notre-Dame, with its bulb-shaped belfry pressed against the rock of the citadel, is the image of Dinant. Opposite, the Charles de Gaulle bridge crosses the Meuse decorated with giant saxophones painted with the flags of the countries of Europe: Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, was born here in 1814. Monsieur Sax's house At 37 rue Sax, on the site of his birthplace, there is a small interpretation centre about the inventor and his instrument, self-guided and free every day from 9:00 to 19:00. In front, a statue of Sax sitting on a bench waits for you to take your photo. - **Kayaking the Lesse, from Gendron to Anseremme** (2 h 30 · 12 km · Families with children from age 5 and beginners; you will get wet at the two weirs · From €31 per person in a double kayak without the shuttle · €33.50 with the shuttle · €2.50 less for under-12s): The Lesse is a calm tributary of the Meuse that winds between forests and crags before reaching Dinant. The 12 km stretch from Gendron to Anseremme is the classic descent: two and a half hours of easy paddling, two weirs where you are sure to get wet and Walzin Castle hanging above the river halfway along. How it works It is run by Dinant Evasion, based in Anseremme. You arrive by train at Gendron-Celles station, less than 150 metres from the starting point, or leave the car at Anseremme and go up in their shuttle. The classic double kayak costs €33.50 per person with the shuttle and €31 without; under-12s get €2.50 off. It includes paddle, life jacket, a bin for rubbish and water, and hot showers on arrival. Minimum age, 5, depending on the water level; the life jacket is compulsory. Season and departures Every day from 4 April to 31 October 2026, except in adverse conditions, with embarkations at Gendron between 10:00 and 14:00 (from 9:30 to 14:30 from mid-June to mid-September). Book: the slots sell out in summer. Do not leave valuables in the bag they keep for you. - **Meuse cruise from Dinant to Anseremme** (45 min · All ages · €13 adults · €12.50 over-60s · €10 under 12 · free under 4): Forty-five minutes by boat on the Meuse, from the quay in the centre to Anseremme and back, passing beneath the citadel and beside the Bayard Rock, a 40-metre stone needle separated from the cliff. Times and prices It leaves from quay 4 on the avenue Winston Churchill at 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 and 17:30, with a minimum of five bookings per departure. In 2026, every day from 25 April to 30 August, and weekends and public holidays from the end of March to April and from September to 1 November. It costs €13, €10 for under-12s and nothing for under-4s. The citadel sells a combined ticket with this cruise. - **The Bayard Rock and the walk along the Meuse bank** (1 h · All ages; along the pavement beside the river · Free): South of the centre, the Anseremme road passes through a gap between the cliff and a detached needle of rock about 40 metres high: the Bayard Rock. Legend says it was split with one blow of the hoof by the horse Bayard, who carried the four Aymon sons fleeing from Charlemagne. The walk Leave the centre along the right bank of the Meuse, next to the collegiate church, and walk south. It is about twenty minutes to the rock, and from there you can continue to Anseremme, where the Lesse joins the Meuse and where the kayak descent ends. - **Walzin Castle from the Lesse** (30 min · All ages · Free from outside): Walzin Castle is the most romantic image of the Lesse: a fortress with pointed towers at the top of a crag that drops sheer to the river, about 6 km from Dinant. It is private and cannot be visited inside. How to see it The best view is from the water, kayaking from Gendron to Anseremme, which passes right beneath it. Without a kayak, you can see it from the bridge and the paths along the bank near Walzin. ## Dónde comer - **La Broche** (Restaurant, Dinant · Rue Grande, €€€). Qué pedir: the lunchtime menu of starter, main and coffee at €33, or the seasonal gourmand menu - **Le Confessionnal** (Restaurant, Dinant · Leffe, €€). Qué pedir: a dish from the board, which changes with what the chef finds from local producers ## By plane: Flight to Charleroi or Brussels and train to Dinant Dinant is closer to Charleroi than to Brussels: if you fly with a low-cost airline to Charleroi (CRL), with direct flights from several Spanish cities, you are less than an hour away by car. From Brussels-Zaventem (BRU) you get there by train via Namur, in a little over an hour and a half from the centre. For the kayak and the castles of the Lesse, a hire car helps. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **ibis Dinant Centre** (Hotel): A chain hotel, simple and well located: on the bank of the Meuse, a few minutes' walk from the centre and the collegiate church, with a terrace over the river. It is the practical bed in Dinant for a night. The rooms and services Standard rooms, some with a view of the Meuse, air conditioning and wifi. The buffet breakfast has hot dishes, charcuterie, cheeses, fruit, crêpes and waffles. The bar serves something to eat at any hour. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out until 12:00, which gives you leeway in the morning. Getting there and parking From Dinant station, about ten minutes' walk crossing the bridge. The hotel has no garage of its own: there is a public car park about 50 metres away. - **Hôtel Aquatel** (Small hotel): The Dinant Evasion hotel is on the banks of the Lesse at Anseremme, about 3.5 km from the centre of Dinant, right where the kayak descent ends. It is simple accommodation designed for families and groups who come to paddle. The rooms Six doubles with balcony and bathroom, six family rooms for up to five people, with a double bed below and three singles on a mezzanine, and an XXL room with 18 beds for groups. The buffet breakfast costs €14 for adults and €10 for under-12s. Check-in from 14:00 to 21:00 and check-out at 10:00, with flexibility if you ask. Getting there By car, a large free car park with three electric chargers. By train, Anseremme station is less than 150 metres from the base. Small dogs are accepted for €10 a night. ### Servicios - **Dinant station and the train from Brussels via Namur**: About an hour and a half from Brussels with a change or direct via Namur · stations also at Anseremme and Gendron for the kayak ## Car-free: Dinant by train, on foot and by kayak Dinant can be done without a car: the train reaches the centre, the kayak has a station next to the start and the finish, and the Meuse bank can be walked. The only thing that costs effort is going up to the citadel while the cable car is closed: staircase. Presupuesto orientativo: 90–160 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **ibis Dinant Centre** (Hotel): A chain hotel, simple and well located: on the bank of the Meuse, a few minutes' walk from the centre and the collegiate church, with a terrace over the river. It is the practical bed in Dinant for a night. The rooms and services Standard rooms, some with a view of the Meuse, air conditioning and wifi. The buffet breakfast has hot dishes, charcuterie, cheeses, fruit, crêpes and waffles. The bar serves something to eat at any hour. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out until 12:00, which gives you leeway in the morning. Getting there and parking From Dinant station, about ten minutes' walk crossing the bridge. The hotel has no garage of its own: there is a public car park about 50 metres away. - **Hôtel Aquatel** (Small hotel): The Dinant Evasion hotel is on the banks of the Lesse at Anseremme, about 3.5 km from the centre of Dinant, right where the kayak descent ends. It is simple accommodation designed for families and groups who come to paddle. The rooms Six doubles with balcony and bathroom, six family rooms for up to five people, with a double bed below and three singles on a mezzanine, and an XXL room with 18 beds for groups. The buffet breakfast costs €14 for adults and €10 for under-12s. Check-in from 14:00 to 21:00 and check-out at 10:00, with flexibility if you ask. Getting there By car, a large free car park with three electric chargers. By train, Anseremme station is less than 150 metres from the base. Small dogs are accepted for €10 a night. ### Servicios - **Dinant station and the train from Brussels via Namur**: About an hour and a half from Brussels with a change or direct via Namur · stations also at Anseremme and Gendron for the kayak ## By car: Dinant and the Lesse valley by car By car, Dinant is an hour and a half from Brussels on the E411 and less than an hour from Charleroi, and lets you go up to the citadel from above, leave the car at Anseremme for the kayak and look in on the castles of the valley. Presupuesto orientativo: 100–170 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **ibis Dinant Centre** (Hotel): A chain hotel, simple and well located: on the bank of the Meuse, a few minutes' walk from the centre and the collegiate church, with a terrace over the river. It is the practical bed in Dinant for a night. The rooms and services Standard rooms, some with a view of the Meuse, air conditioning and wifi. The buffet breakfast has hot dishes, charcuterie, cheeses, fruit, crêpes and waffles. The bar serves something to eat at any hour. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out until 12:00, which gives you leeway in the morning. Getting there and parking From Dinant station, about ten minutes' walk crossing the bridge. The hotel has no garage of its own: there is a public car park about 50 metres away. - **Hôtel Aquatel** (Small hotel): The Dinant Evasion hotel is on the banks of the Lesse at Anseremme, about 3.5 km from the centre of Dinant, right where the kayak descent ends. It is simple accommodation designed for families and groups who come to paddle. The rooms Six doubles with balcony and bathroom, six family rooms for up to five people, with a double bed below and three singles on a mezzanine, and an XXL room with 18 beds for groups. The buffet breakfast costs €14 for adults and €10 for under-12s. Check-in from 14:00 to 21:00 and check-out at 10:00, with flexibility if you ask. Getting there By car, a large free car park with three electric chargers. By train, Anseremme station is less than 150 metres from the base. Small dogs are accepted for €10 a night. ### Servicios - **Free parking at the top of the citadel**: By the citadel's upper entrance · free · useful while the cable car is closed ## As a family: Dinant with children Dinant is one of the day trips from Brussels that works best with children: a fortress at the top of a rock, a boat, an easy kayak and giant saxophones on the bridge. ### What works best The citadel, with the augmented reality tablet The Meuse cruise, free under 4 The Lesse kayak, from age 5 The saxophones on the bridge and the statue of Sax on the bench ### Where to sleep A family room for five at the Aquatel ### Where to eat The ibis terrace, beside the river ### Bear in mind Without the cable car, the citadel staircase is long for small children: go up by car from above The kayak requires a life jacket and depends on the water level ### Qué hacer as a family - The Dinant citadel, above the Meuse - The collegiate church, the Saxophone Bridge and Monsieur Sax's house - Kayaking the Lesse, from Gendron to Anseremme - Meuse cruise from Dinant to Anseremme - The Bayard Rock and the walk along the Meuse bank - Walzin Castle from the Lesse ## With teenagers: Dinant with teenagers Kayaking the Lesse is the plan: two and a half hours of paddling, weirs where you get wet and a castle above. Add the citadel and they have a day they will remember. ### What works best The 12 km kayak, in a single kayak if they paddle well The citadel, going up by the staircase Walzin Castle from the water ### Where to sleep Hôtel Aquatel, beside the river ### Where to eat A picnic in the kayak, with the bin they give you ### Bear in mind Dinant Evasion also has a zip line and caving, in case they want more ### Qué hacer with teenagers - The Dinant citadel, above the Meuse - The collegiate church, the Saxophone Bridge and Monsieur Sax's house - Kayaking the Lesse, from Gendron to Anseremme - Walzin Castle from the Lesse ## Consejos ### Check the cable car In November 2026 it is closed for works; if it reopens, it saves you the staircase. ### Kayak on a weekday On summer weekends the river is full. ### Bring a change of clothes You will get wet at the Lesse weirs. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Brussels to Dinant? About an hour and a half, by train via Namur or by car on the E411. ### Is the citadel cable car running? In November 2026 it is closed for a major refurbishment. ### From what age can you kayak the Lesse? From age 5, depending on the water level, with a compulsory life jacket. ### What is there to see in Dinant in a day? The citadel, the collegiate church, the Saxophone Bridge, the Sax house and the cruise on the Meuse. ### Why are there saxophones in Dinant? Because Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, was born here in 1814.