Hôtel Panorama
Bouillon - Au-Dessus De La Ville 25
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Close to the French border, just 4 km away, Bouillon is a small gem waiting to be discovered. Nestled in an enchanting natural setting, this charming town winds gracefully along the meanders of the Semois river, whose waters mirror the impressive medieval castle that dominates the city from the top of a hill. Within the castle’s chambers rested none other than Godfrey of Bouillon before setting off on the Crusades.
Bouillon is an ideal destination for a delightful day combining history, culture and nature. You can take a leisurely pace and stick to the town centre’s attractions, or stay longer and explore the magnificent landscapes in the surrounding area.
Don’t leave the city without tasting its most famous beer, the Cuvée de Bouillon. It’s produced by the brewery bearing the city’s name, Brasserie de Bouillon, a unique microbrewery where passion for beer is inextricably linked with love for the region.
Bouillon’s city centre is small and easily explored on foot. Here are the must-see attractions.
The city’s main attraction is the magnificent Bouillon Castle, one of Belgium’s oldest feudal castles and among the best preserved. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, with the river flowing at its feet and greenery all around, it’s a truly atmospheric sight.
This castle’s fame stems from its ownership by Godfrey of Bouillon, the military leader who commanded the First Crusade in 1096.
A visit to the castle takes you on a fascinating journey up and down through drawbridges, noble halls, underground passages, towers, wells and torture chambers.
Some rooms have been converted into cellars for maturing cheeses: carved into the rock, these chambers maintain a constant temperature, neither too cold nor too warm, ideal for producing quality products. You can purchase this delicacy at the castle or in shops in the town centre.
The castle is also an exceptional vantage point for admiring Bouillon and the Semois valley in all its beauty, and it houses a permanent exhibition titled “Scriptura – De la Plume au PC” (“Writing – From Quill to PC”).
For an even more atmospheric experience, visit Bouillon Castle after sunset by taking part in a night-time tour. For a small additional fee, you’ll be given a torch to light your way through the castle – essential even under a full moon!
If you prefer to fully immerse yourself in medieval atmosphere or you’re a bird of prey enthusiast, attend one of the falconry displays organised daily.
Your castle visit naturally continues at the Ducal Museum, housed in two historic palaces located a short distance away.
The older one, dating from the 17th century, originally served as accommodation for castle officers; the more recent building is from the 18th century and was the residence of Nicolas-Joseph Spontin, adviser to the Sovereign Court of Bouillon.
The eclectic museum collection includes sections dedicated to local history, medieval art, Oriental art, weapons, painting and prints, and folklore.
The third stop on a medieval Bouillon themed itinerary is the Archéoscope Godefroid de Bouillon, a remarkable theatre within a stone-vaulted building where a single show is performed, dedicated to the epic of the Crusades led by Godfrey of Bouillon.
The show makes use of spectacular sound and visual effects that will make you feel as though you’re at the centre of the action.
You can visit Bouillon’s three main tourist attractions (castle, Ducal Museum and Archéoscope Godefroid de Bouillon) with a single ticket that allows you to save on purchasing three individual tickets.
The area around Bouillon is a region well-known in Belgium for outdoor activities. In the lush Semois valley you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, motocross, fishing and canoeing.
Can a Belgian city be without a beer-themed attraction? Certainly not, but Brasserie de Bouillon is something rather special: more of a connoisseur’s gem than a star on the international beer scene.
The story of this local microbrewery is worth telling. It began as a fruit and vegetable shop with a couple of beers for sale, mostly Trappist beers that paired beautifully with cheeses, owned by Nathalie Louis and Jacques Pougin, natives of Bouillon and deeply in love with their town.
Demand for quality beers grew, and Nathalie and Jacques became passionate about brewing, deciding to attempt producing their own beer. Thus was born the Cuvée de Bouillon, a 6.5% lager seasoned like a white beer, whose success prompted the couple to take the plunge and open their own brewery.
Today four beers are produced: besides the Cuvée, there’s also a traditional white beer, an amber and a dark beer; to these are added some seasonal brews.
The Brasserie de Bouillon brewery is open year-round for group visits of a minimum of 8 people (10 if a meal is requested), by prior booking.
Throughout the year some guided tours are organised for tourists who aren’t part of an organised group. Individual visitors can also contact the brewery to form a group or pay a flat rate for the visit, but given the relatively high cost per person, the latter option is recommended only for true enthusiasts!
If you can’t visit the brewery you can make your beer purchases at Le Marché de Nathalie shop in the city centre, where this wonderful venture began. You’ll find over 300 labels for sale, including some very distinctive Belgian beers.
In Bouillon’s centre there are about a dozen hotels, but the choice widens considerably if you can travel a few kilometres. In the surrounding area you’ll find delightful bed and breakfasts nestled in the countryside, an excellent option for a romantic getaway or for those seeking total relaxation. For more information on where to stay, consult our guide on where to stay in Belgium.
Bouillon is over 150 km from Brussels and can be reached by car in less than two hours via the E411. Arriving by train is more difficult as you’ll need to make at least one change and journey time increases significantly: allow at least three and a half hours.
What's the weather at Bouillon? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Bouillon for the next few days.
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