Discover the beauty of the Ardennes region

Escape to the Ardennes and experience adventure, history and the glories of nature in one of Belgium’s most beautiful regions.     

Where is the Ardennes region and what is it known for?

The Ardennes stretches for over 1,200 square miles in southern Belgium 

The Ardennes is an area of thick forest, river valleys and rolling hills that occupies most of the southern part of Wallonia, in Belgium, and parts of north-eastern France. The Ardennes is famous for its stunning scenery and tranquillity, its caves, rivers and traditional towns and villages. 

Why visit the Belgian Ardennes?

If you’re looking for a rural road trip steeped in history and surprises, then head to the Ardennes in Belgium. You’ll discover castles standing proud on lonely hilltops, gently meandering rivers, misty mountains and dark forests, limestone crags and verdant valleys. Beautiful towns lie buried like treasure among the greenery. You could hike for days in the Ardennes and not see a soul, or stumble on a world-leading F1 motor racing circuit in the middle of a forest. Such is the magical, delightful adventure of exploring the Belgian Ardennes. 

What are the best places to visit in the Belgian Ardennes?

The scenic setting of Dinant 

Dinant

There is probably no more beautiful place in the Belgian Ardennes than Dinant. With its steepling rock face, dramatic citadel, onion domed church and pretty waterfront, it’s one of Belgium’s most picturesque spots. Dinant was also the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, and the home of Leffe beer, a historic and hugely popular Belgian abbey ale. When you’re in Dinant, make sure you climb the citadel, visit the Sax museum, taste the beer and take a river cruise down the Meuse. 

Namur

While smaller than neighbouring Liege, Namur is the official capital of Wallonia, and often thought of as the ‘gateway’ to the Ardennes. The 2,000 year old citadel dominates the city. This huge fortress covers an entire hill top, with ramparts, tunnels and walkways to explore. A cable car service began in 2021, linking the city centre with the citadel esplanade, and it’s a great thing to do in Namur, taking you on a 7-minute ride high above the Meuse river. The Citadel viewpoint provides fantastic views, and there are guided tours of the tunnels and an exhibition at the Terra Nova visitor centre. 

La Roche-en-Ardenne

La Roche-en-Ardenne

Nestled in a bend of the Ourthe river, beneath forested hillsides and a medieval castle, La Roche-en-Ardenne is another of the region’s undisputed gems. Outdoor enthusiasts will certainly love it here. Hiking, mountain biking and kayaking are all popular ways to explore the surrounding hills. Stop for a lunch of smoked ham, a local speciality, before visiting the numerous memorials dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge. La Roche-en-Ardenne was liberated by the Allies in January 1945 after this failed German offensive, and you can see original US tanks displayed in the streets, and visit a fascinating museum about how the war devastated this region. 

Durbuy 

Although it likes to call itself the ‘smallest city in the world’, Durbuy is actually quite large, with a population of around 11,000. But it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful boutique city, with its cobbled streets, romantic castle, fast flowing river and half-timbered houses all part of the fairy tale setting in the heart of the Ardennes. It’s a lovely place to wander round. You can nose about in the cosy shops, eat in one of its four – yes, FOUR – Michelin-starred restaurants, and be amused by the quirky green carvings in the topiary park.

Bouillon

Overlooked by a magnificent castle, and surrounded by a loop in the river Semois, Bouillon could not be more idyllic. It was the home of Godfrey of Bouillon, a crusading knight in the 11th century. Visit the castle to see the cross he brought back from the Holy Land (once thought to be the true cross, a claim since discounted, but still an impressive sight), and take an atmospheric torchlit tour of this quintessential medieval fortress. The Bouillon Medieval Experience, a multimedia exhibition in the town, tells the story of Godfrey and the First Crusade. 

Top attractions in the Ardennes

The eerie and atmospheric Caves of Han 

Grottes de Han and the wildlife park

Cave networks run right across the Belgian Ardennes, formed millions of years ago. Grottes de Han is the most famous. The underground labyrinth features eerie limestone rock formations, a subterranean river and Europe’s largest underground hall, at 145 metres high. By way of contrast, surrounding the caves are 250 hectares of stunning wildlife park, home to bears, lynx, wolves, red deer and bison. You can either walk through the park, or take a ride on the Safari train. Whichever you choose, you’re not only guaranteed views of the natural environment, but also a glimpse of these beautiful animals.

The Meuse Valley and river landscapes

The Meuse is the river that runs throughout the Belgian Ardennes, ultimately winding its way into the Netherlands and eventually into the North Sea. The river has carved a meandering path through thickly forested valleys. First castles were built on the hillsides, and then towns and villages grew up by the river and its tributaries, sometimes – in the case of Bouillon and La Roche-en-Ardenne – developing in the meanders or loops. Cruises along the Meuse are a breathtaking way to experience the beauty of the Ardennes and its main waterway. 

Historic castles of the Ardennes

Vêves Castle – a romantic château in the Ardennes 

From romantic ruins to Renaissance chateaux,  the Ardennes is known for its castles, many in stunning settings amid forests and mountains.

• Bouillon Castle – sold to finance the First Crusade, this well-preserved medieval fortress has many astonishing features, such as a 165-metre deep well
• La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle – a ruined feudal castle that still has many of its towers, ramparts and bastions intact. Open to the public and staging falconry and archery displays 
• Vêves Castle – a fairy tale château in the French style, not far from Dinant. A majestic sight, with interiors that have been meticulously restored in the last 60 years  

Forests, viewpoints and natural highlights

The Ardennes was made for walking, and from almost any of the towns we’ve featured above, there are hiking trails through forests and hills, leading to panoramic viewpoints. One of the most spectacular is at Bottasart, near Bouillon, a plateau above the Semois valley where walkers get a lovely view of a forested island in a loop in the river. It’s known as Le Tombeau du Géant  (The Giant’s Tomb). This is the view captured in our main article image, and we think you’ll agree, it’s definitely worth seeing for yourself! 

The best outdoor activities in the Ardennes

The peace of kayaking down the Ourthe river 

Adventure activities in nature

A natural playground, the Ardennes offers all kinds of activities for adventure enthusiasts, from kayaking to mountain biking. You’re free to go off and experience these for yourself, or take advantage of specialist adventure attractions, such as Adventure Valley near Durbuy. This nature park rents kayaks out, and also offers treetop trails, ziplining and ferrata rock climbing. Hardened hikers might also fancy long distance trails like the Transardennaise, a 100-mile trek from Bouillon to La Roche-en-Ardenne. 

Family-friendly outdoor experiences

What can you do in the Ardennes with children? Don’t worry, the kids will love it! Many of the castles in the region offer child-friendly experiences, like treasure hunts and dressing up as a knight. There is a bird of prey show at Bouillon castle, and a labyrinth attraction at Durbuy, where the adventures include a Corn Maze with 10km of winding passages, and an Arrow Maze where riddles have to be solved and questions answered, in a natural wonderland. The theme park of Plopsaland Ardennes near Spa has rollercoasters, gentle rides and a water park, while there are many opportunities to go canoeing, kayaking or paddleboarding in the tranquil rivers of the region. 

Planning an Ardennes road trip

Driving in the Ardennes in autumn 

How to spend a weekend in the Ardennes?

If you’ve only got a couple of days in the Belgian Ardennes, here’s a suggested itinerary: 

• Saturday morning – see the sights of Dinant
• Saturday afternoon – drive to La Roche-en-Ardenne (about a 55 minute drive)
• Have dinner and spend the night in La Roche-en-Ardenne
• Sunday morning – drive to the Caves of Han (45-minute drive) 
• Sunday afternoon – drive to Bouillon  (45-minute drive), visiting its castle and walking to the Giant’s Tomb viewpoint at Botassart

How long does it take to drive from Calais to the Ardennes?

It all depends where you start exploring the Ardennes, but the drive to Dinant from the LeShuttle terminal at Calais takes around 3 hours 20 minutes. From Calais take the A16 towards Dunkirk, and then the A25 for Lille. In Belgium you’ll be driving mainly on the E42/A15 motorway, towards Mons, Charleroi and Namur. 

When is the best time to visit the Ardennes?

There is no good or bad time to be in the Ardennes, it is such a beautiful region! The summer months can be hot, and places like Durbuy, La Roche-en-Ardenne and Bouillon can get crowded with day trippers. Visiting in the autumn is quieter, milder and you’ll see the landscape take on golden colours as the leaves fall. 

Visit the Ardennes in Belgium with LeShuttle

Your road trip through the Ardennes starts with LeShuttle and a 35-minute crossing from Folkestone to Calais.