After the usual towns, August 2024
The countryside after the towns: a Dinant day in August 2024
Dan S. and his travel companion had seen the usual Belgian towns. In August 2024 we spent a day in the countryside around Dinant: a castle, a cave and Trappist beer.
A week ago, on Wednesday 14 August, Dan S. and his travel companion spent the day around Dinant with me. They had booked the day on Viator. By then they had seen the usual Belgian towns, and they wanted to see the countryside.
How the day was built
The day goes south, into the river valleys around Dinant. There are fewer towns down there and more castles, cliffs and forests. The plan was simple: a walk and a snack by a castle, a cave, lunch, and then Trappist beer at an abbey.
A snack by the castle
We started with a walk along the river to a view of Château de Walzin, on its cliff above the Lesse. The castle is private and still lived in, so you see it from across the water. Below it, kayakers float down towards Anseremme, where the Lesse flows into the Meuse. There I laid out a snack by the river.
Down into the cave
Then came Grotte de Lorette at Rochefort, about forty minutes by car from Walzin. A cave guide takes you about sixty metres underground, on a visit of about an hour. The river Lomme carved these chambers out of the rock. It is around eight degrees down there all year, so bring a layer, even in August.
The cave guide that day was a geologist who spoke three languages. Wear shoes with grip: the visit has more than 600 steps, down and back up. The cave says on its own website that it is not accessible for people with reduced mobility.
I do not go down with the guests. I use that hour to set up lunch. So when Dan and his companion came back up, lunch was ready.
Trappist beer at Chimay
In the afternoon we went to Chimay, near the French border. A Trappist beer is brewed inside the walls of an abbey, under the monks’ control. Belgium has five of them, and Chimay is one. The monks of Scourmont Abbey brew it. The day ended with dinner together.
In Dan’s words
Dan posted this review on Viator two days after the day, as Dan_S.
I loved this tour. After seeing all the usual towns, it was great to see more of the countryside of Belgium. A beautiful snack by a river and castle where we walked along a river was so picturesque. Then we took a tour of an underground cavern. Be prepared to wear some sneakers or shoes with a grip and climb quite a few stairs. The tour of the caverns was really spectacular, thenquide was a geologist who was incredibly knowledgeable and also spoke 3 languages fluently. Then we went on to drink some Trappist beer and visit a monastery. Joris the guide had lunch all ready for us after the caverns and then took us to a nice dinner later on. Really a wonderful day.
Dan_S, on Viator, August 2024
After seeing all the usual towns, it was great to see more of the countryside of Belgium.
Dan S., on Viator
A day like this
This day suits travellers who have seen Bruges, Ghent and Brussels and want the quieter Belgium. It suits you less if stairs are hard for you: the cave has a lot of them.
What would a day like this cost today? Read what a private day in Belgium costs, and what is in it.
If you want a day like this, tell us your dates on the private page.
A countryside day like this one
This is one of the private days we run, with pickup at your door in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Bruges or anywhere else in Belgium. Lunch and drinks throughout, one party per day. Tell us your dates and we build the day around you. Days run year-round on request, and you get a personal reply within 24 hours.
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