Before you go

Your trip to Rochefort.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Rochefort – Namur Destination Ardennes

How to get there

Brussels Airport (BRU) Zaventem
Gare de Rochefort-Jemelle Jemelle · 3 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Rochefort-Jemelle station, on the Bruxelas–Namur–Luxemburgo line, is served by InterCity trains and is located in Jemelle, outside the town center. TEC bus 29 links the station to the center of Han-sur-Lesse. By car, the town is crossed by the N86, which comes from Marche-en-Famenne and continues to Han. Check before buying.

How many days

One full day for the Domaine des Grottes de Han, with the cave and the wildlife park. With two days, you can include the castle ruins and the villa of Malagne at a relaxed pace.

When to go

From April to September the days are long and attractions usually operate on a broader schedule; July and August see the most visitors. The cave stays cool year-round. From November to February the days are short, and the Domaine typically closes for a few weeks at the start of the year.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

It's not indispensable for Rochefort and Han: the train arrives at Jemelle and bus 29 completes the journey. A car is helpful to go from Han to Rochefort center and to Malagne in the same day, and it's almost essential to visit other towns in the Ardennes.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Rochefort

Morning
Gruta de Han
Start in Han-sur-Lesse, from where the tram departs to the cave entrance. The visit is guided and passes through rooms with stalactites and the underground river. Arrive early: in July and August the queues grow through the morning.
Afternoon
Parque de animales de Han
After lunch in the village, visit the wildlife park, on foot along the trails or in the safari vehicle. Bears, wolves, bison, lynx and wolverines live in large forest and field enclosures crossed by the Lesse.
Late afternoon
Castle ruins
Head to Rochefort center and climb up to the ruins of the Château Comtal, on the promontory above the Lomme. From the top you can see the town squeezed between the castle and the hill.
Evening
Dinner in the center
Dine in Rochefort center. The cheese and beer from the Trappist Abbey of Saint-Remy are part of the town's tradition and appear on menus and in shops, although the monastery does not admit visitors.

2 days in Rochefort

Day 2

Morning
Arqueoparque de Malagne
On the second day, go to Malagne, between Rochefort and Jemelle. The 14-hectare site reconstructs life on a large Roman villa, with gardens, heritage-breed animals and workshops.
Afternoon
Trail through the Lesse valley
In the afternoon, take a short walk from Han-sur-Lesse along the banks of the Lesse and the limestone slopes of the Calestienne, the band of rock that separates the Famenne from the Ardennes.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Are Han-sur-Lesse and Rochefort the same town?

Han-sur-Lesse is a locality of the municipality of Rochefort, a few kilometers from the center. The caves and the wildlife park are in Han; the castle ruins and the train station are in Rochefort and Jemelle. The bus and the N86 link the three.

Can you visit the brewery abbey of Rochefort?

No. The Abadia de Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy is an active Trappist monastery, and the brewery does not open to the public. The abbey was founded around 1230, and beer production there dates from the late 16th century. It figures in the town as part of the local culture, in shops and restaurants.

Can you get to Rochefort by train?

Yes. InterCity trains between Bruxelas and Luxembourg stop at Rochefort-Jemelle, roughly hourly. From the station, TEC bus 29 continues to the center of Han-sur-Lesse, including on weekends. Check the train and bus timetables before you set out.

How much time should I allow for the Grottes de Han?

The guided cave tour takes from just over an hour to about two hours, depending on the route chosen. The wildlife park requires three to four hours on foot, or about an hour and a half in the safari vehicle. Adding both, plan on a full day.

Is Rochefort in the Ardennes?

It lies on the edge. The town is in the Famenne, a depression between the Condroz plateau and the Ardennes, next to the Calestienne, the limestone band where the caves formed. Ardennes forest begins just south of the municipality.

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