Friday 31 January 2014

Caves of Han

So... even if my Brussels' time has long passed (I am back to Portugal since last August), I was checking my blog folders and realized I had saved some draft posts that I still hadn't concluded since the end of my traineeship. So here's a few more tips and tricks that can be useful if you're still living / planning to move to Brussels :)

Last June, me and some other trainees decided to gather to visit the Han Caves. These caves are located in the Namur district, in Han-sur-Lesse. We took the train headed to Arlon and hopped off at the Jemelle station. Then you need to take a bus that will take you directly to the place where the visitor's center for the caves is (you can buy the ticket to the driver and the stop is right outside the train station). Be sure to check these bus' schedules, as it doesn't pass too often.


At the sight we visited not only the caves, but also the wildlife reserve. You can reach the entrance of the caves by foot or with a mini-train from the center of the village. For the reserve, there is a train as well leaving from the center that will take you there (which is always playing a joyful tune saying "les grotes de Han... pour les petites et les grands!"). Then you can either visit the reserve always in the train, or you can get out at the entrance and visit it walking. That's what we preferred to do, to get a better view of the place and since the weather was nice.





In the reserve you can see some different species of wild animals, but all of them are gathered inside fences. The place itself is really nice, with lots of trees and green fields.


In the caves you have to wait for the start of a guided tour (they have them in French, Flemish and English). The tour takes around 1h30 and you will follow a guide that will provide you with explanations in several parts of the visit. In the end you have a lights' show in one part of the caves. The caves are huge and it's much colder and wetter down there, so be sure to dress appropriately.

This trip is perfect for a full day, as it takes some logistics to get to the place via public transportation from Brussels and it also takes some time to visit both places. So I would advise you to leave in the morning (we left at around 9h30) and expect to return in the evening (we arrived at around 20h30). Be sure to take something to eat along with you, as in the village you have a couple of restaurants/cafes, but not with much variety of offer (or nice prices). Plus, taking your own food will allow you to enjoy it with the sights of the reserve and will make you not waste time :) The village itself has some nice attractions as well, like a wax museum picturing different kinds of craftsmen and some typical shops. I would recommend a visit to this place, it was a day well spent!