The Castle of Godfrey of Bouillon (The Castle of Godfrey of Bouillon )

Land of the crusaders

 

At the bend in the Route de France lies the fortress which, for a thousand years, has cast its shadow and its history over the small city of Bouillon. A story written in blood and the epic of the First Crusade, led by the master of the place, Godfrey of Bouillon… Here, legend and history mingle.

 

À Bouillon

A - The castle and the legend of Godfrey of Bouillon


Even though the castle today bears little resemblance to that of 1096, it is well worth visiting as the presence of Duke Godfrey can still be sensed: a strange feeling pervades you as you stroll through the ruins, as if the shadow of this great leader of the first crusade could appear in the knight’s’ room or the spiral stairs at any moment… Within the castle walls, the sense of wonder continues when birds of prey rise up from the ruins and perform a heavenly ballet. This show brings to mind an age-old hunting technique: falconry.

> During the season, a falconry display takes place within the castle walls (including the site admission price).



The last ticket is delivered 45 minutes before closing.
Joint tickets for the Castle, the Archeoscope and the Museum are available.


esplanade Godefroid, 1
6830 Bouillon
Tel : 0032(0) 61 46 42 02
Web : www.bouillon-initiative.be

Tip

Avoid parking in front of the castle entrance. Instead, explore the imposing walls by following the path that starts alongside the tennis courts, upstream of the Bastion de Bourgogne. The path is lit, so when night falls the route becomes a playground for night birds immersing themselves in ten centuries of history…

À Botassart

B - The Giant’s Tomb


Botassart, a village near Bouillon, is the scene of one of the loveliest, most majestic panoramas in the Ardennes. Here, the Semois makes the most of the relief, constantly winding back and forth. The loop it forms in Botassart is so tight that an island is born in the heart of this green ocean, creating the formidable tomb of a giant said to have been struck down here.

Toerist information desk of Section locale du RSI de Bouillon

rue de Châteaumont

site du point de vue - 6833 Botassart

+32 (0)61/46.00.76

sibotassart@gmail.com

Did you know?

A ford enabled travellers, pedlars or soldiers of the time to cross the Semois and reach Bouillon. Opposite the mill stands the Hermit’s Rock (la Roche de l’Ermite). A hearth created in the rock provided shelter for a hermit-weaver in the late 17th century.

À Bouillon

C - The Archeoscope


A fascinating time machine has been installed in a 17th-century convent. Thanks to the very latest multimedia techniques, visitors can follow in the footsteps of Godfrey, reliving the highlights of the first crusade. The ideal complement to a visit to the fortified castle.



Open from 11.30am to 02pm and from 05pm to 11pm (00:00 during the week-end) and on sunday from 04pm to 11pm.


Rempart des Jésuites 7
6900 Marche-en-famenne
Tel : 0033(0)84315607

Tip

Visit the castle and the Archeoscope to learn about Godfrey’s epic story. Inquire about the pass for these two attractions and benefit from a discount.

À Bouillon

D - The Ducal Museum


This is the ideal setting in which to find out about Bouillon’s thousand-year history thanks to the varied and attractive collections.



type of visit: free (1h) or Guided visits in English with previous appointment. .


rue du Petit, 1
6830 Bouillon
Tel : 0032(0) 61 46 41 89
Web : www.museeducalbouillon.be

À Bouillon

E - The Abbey of Our Lady of Clairefontaine in Cordemoy


Cross the neo-Gothic Poulie bridge and go along the magnificent route de la Semois: this will take you to Cordemoy or Clairefontaine Abbey. The style may be familiar as it calls to mind Orval Abbey, designed by the same architect, Henry Vaes, with its diagonal ribs evoking hands clasped together in prayer. The cloistered nuns receive visitors within their community every day.



Church available for any kind of public
To take part in the prayer of trappistine nuns
Accomodation on request


Cordemois, 1
6830 Bouillon
Tel : 0032(0) 61 22 90 80

Tip

A small shop run by the sisters sells produce from the abbey.

À Bouillon

F - Walks galore


In the area around Bouillon, the Semois constantly forms magnificent arabesques in the landscape, hugging the slopes to form peninsulas. On the maps, the paths leap from ridges to valleys: the waymarked routes found here are without doubt among the most beautiful in Wallonia.

The Tourist Office has published a lovely walking map on an IGN (Ordnance Survey) background. We would particularly recommend the ‘Moulin de l’Epine’ walk, which is delightfully pretty.

Walking

‘La Ramonette’ walk
The natural site alone is outstanding. The view over the Semois valley and the little city is superb. ‘La Ramonette’ is surrounded by the river and was occupied by the Romans, who saw it as an essential strategic location.

 

Practical details

Distance: 1.5 km

Waymarking: red diamond, walk No 10

Difficulty: easy

Time: 1 h

Start: access the path via the route de France. At the tunnel, take the Vieille Route de France, on the right, which climbs.

 

Walking


The Belvedere

This route offers you superb panoramic views of Bouillon.

 

Practical details

Distance: 6 km

Waymarking: red diamond, walk No 14

Difficulty: average

Time: 30’

Start: access the path from the opposite bank of the Semois, leaving Cordemoy bridge.

Tip

Just after the Cordemoy monastery, at the Moulin de l’Épine, you can stop to eat at the inn before continuing along the route (red diamond, walk No 15). Go down into Bouillon along a cantilevered path worthy of the loveliest mountain routes…

À Bouillon

G - Meet and savour


Nathalie’s market

This is above all a love story, that of Marc and Nathalie who decided, 18 years ago, to open a shop to be a standard bearer of Belgian beer. Traditional beers are both their strength and their weakness. Strength in their quality, weakness in their production, which is of necessity limited. “My beer orders were not always met”. Fed up with the situation, he began producing his own beer. “I started to brew 20 litres at the back of the shop, in an area of 50 m2…”. Now the brewery has been transferred to the slopes above Bouillon, to Noirefontaine, where more room means that we can brew 50 beers following different recipes.



0pen daily from 9 a.m to 12 a.m and from 2 p.m to 6.30 p.m
Closed on Wednesday


grand-rue, 22
6830 Bouillon
Tel : 0032(0) 61 46 89 40
Web : www.brasseriedebouillon.be

À Bouillon

H - Meet and savour


Cordemoy Abbey shop

À Bouillon

I - Reception and tourist information site


La Maison du Tourisme du Pays de Bouillon

quai des Saulx, 12 - 6830 Bouillon

+32 (0)61/46.52.11

info@bouillon-tourisme.be

www.paysdebouillon.be

 

Open all year round from 10am to 5pm 

Closed on 25th December to 1st January

Le Syndicat d’Initiative de Bouillon (located at the entrance to the fortified castle)

esplanade Godefroid, 1 - 6830 Bouillon

+32 (0)61/46.62.57

info@bouillon-initiative.be

www.bouillon-initiative.be

À Bouillon

J - The Bouillon brewery


In the 1990s, two young enthusiasts of the region took up the challenge of creating a beer produced in Bouillon itself, intended to captivate both tourists and locals. When he first started, Jacques tested his knowledge and developed his know-how at the back of the shop run by Nathalie, his wife. He researched, developed a delicious beer and first tested it by selling it in the grocer’s store, the ‘Marché de Nathalie’. And it worked! He soon took the plunge: the Bouillon brewery was born. Its success has continued since 1998. The range of beers has been expanded, with something to suit every taste. The Blanche de Bouillon (blanche flavoured with coriander and orange peel), the Cuvée de Bouillon, the Bouillonnaise (brown), the Vauban (blonde) or the Saison des Chasses carry on the great success story of these two of lovers of Bouillon…

 




rue de la Girafe, 76
6830 Bouillon
Tel : 0032(0) 61 46 89 40
Web : www.brasseriedebouillon.be