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Dinant

A Citadel Cliff, Saxophones and the Meuse

Plan this trip
2 daysIdeal stay₹7,990From / night₹2,770Food / day₹1,380Entry

A riverside town under a sheer cliff in the Meuse valley, its onion-domed Collegiate Church below the citadel, reached by cable car or a long stair cut into the rock. Adolphe Sax, the saxophone's inventor, was born here: his house and the giant saxophones on the bridge. Boats cruise the Meuse in season, kayaks run down the Lesse from Anseremme (in summer, and stopped when the river is too low after a drought), and the Grotte de Han caves are 30 km away (their main season is April to October; in winter only special weekend visits). Namur and its citadel are 30 minutes by train. About 1 h 45 from Brussels by train, changing at Namur (estimate).

Highlights

  • Citadel views over the Meuse
  • Collegiate Church under the cliff
  • Adolphe Sax's house
  • Meuse boat cruise
  • Kayaking down the Lesse
  • Grotte de Han caves
  • Château de Walzin

Things to do

  • Citadel by cable car and the Collegiate ChurchMorning · 2h 30m
  • Maison de Monsieur Sax and the riverfrontAfternoon · 1h 30m
  • Meuse river cruiseApr–OctAfternoon · 1h 30m
  • Kayak down the Lesse from Houyet to AnseremmeApr–OctMorning · 4h
  • Grotte de Han caves (half day)Apr–OctMorning · 4h

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Dinantvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Dinantvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: May – September

Worth knowing

Winter: Grotte de Han and the Kayaks Close

The Grotte de Han caves run their full visits from April to October; in winter there are only special weekend visits on some dates (check grotte-de-han.be). The Lesse kayaks and most Meuse boat cruises stop for the winter. Dinant itself, its citadel and Namur stay open.

Heads up

Low Water Can Stop the Lesse Kayaks

After a dry spell the Lesse can fall too low for the classic kayak descent to Anseremme, and the operators switch to a short calm-water route instead. Check with the operator the day before rather than building a day round it.

  • Dinant bathtub regatta — On 15 August home-made boats built on bathtubs race down the Meuse in fancy dress, watched from the banks; the riverside is crowded and parking is hard.