DinantStory N° 198
Ardennes Open-Road Escape
Forest passes, river valleys and hilltop castles on a free-wheeling road trip through the Belgian Ardennes.
The itinerary.
4 days · 11 stops
Thursday
Day One
Pick up the car and head south to Dinant, hugging the Meuse beneath dramatic cliffs to start the open road.
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Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant
The bulb-spired Gothic church wedged against a sheer rock face above the Meuse river.
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Citadelle de Dinant
A clifftop fortress reached by cable car or 408 steps, with sweeping views over the valley.
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Maison Leffe
An abbey-beer experience in a former convent, celebrating Dinant's brewing heritage.
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Hotel
Ibis Dinant Centre booking.com
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Getting around
- Renting a car in Brussels and driving south to Dinant (around 1.5 hours)
- Driving the scenic Meuse valley road
Friday
Day Two
Wind east into deep forest country, climbing to the ruined castle above the river bend at La Roche-en-Ardenne.
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Château Féodal de La Roche-en-Ardenne
A romantic 11th-century castle ruin perched over a hairpin loop of the Ourthe river.
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Barrage de Nisramont
A forest dam and reservoir with panoramic walking trails through the wild heart of the Ardennes.
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Ourthe River Kayaking
Paddle a stretch of the meandering Ourthe, a classic Ardennes free-spirited adventure.
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Hotel
Hotel Floreal La Roche-en-Ardenne booking.com
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Getting around
- Driving forest roads east from Dinant to La Roche (around 1.5 hours)
- Country lanes through the Ourthe valley
Saturday
Day Three
Cross to the wooded frontier and the storied medieval fortress of Bouillon on a long, open driving day.
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Château de Bouillon
The largest and oldest fortified castle in Belgium, once home to crusader Godfrey of Bouillon.
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Point de Vue de Botassart
A celebrated viewpoint over the Tombeau du Géant, a forested loop in the Semois river.
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Rochehaut Viewpoint
A balcony village gazing across the valley to the hamlet of Frahan in its emerald river bend.
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Hotel
Hotel de la Poste Bouillon booking.com
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Getting around
- Driving south-west through the forest to Bouillon (around 1.5 hours)
- Scenic Semois valley roads
Sunday
Day Four
A final forest drive and one last viewpoint before returning the car to the capital.
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Abbaye d'Orval
A working Trappist monastery and ruins where the legendary Orval beer is brewed in the deep south.
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Les Hautes-Rivières Forest Drive
A quiet last stretch of winding forest road tracing the Belgian-French border before heading north.
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Hotel
Hotel de la Poste Bouillon booking.com
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Getting around
- Final forest drive, then the motorway back to Brussels (around 2 hours)
- Returning the rental car in Brussels
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Ardennes Open-Road Escape?
4 days. The itinerary runs from Thursday to Sunday and covers 11 curated stops across 4 days.
How much does Ardennes Open-Road Escape cost?
Mid-range — €150–300 per day per person.
Where do you stay during Ardennes Open-Road Escape?
Ibis Dinant Centre is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Ardennes Open-Road Escape itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 11 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Dinant.
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