Green Weekend in Dinant
Dinant is a small, pretty Belgian town with a beautiful natural environment to explore. The atmosphere along the Meuse quay is calm and pleasant. In the summer, you can sit on the terrace while some people cruise.
1. Kayaking along the Lesse River
Kayak. Photos by Irene Paolinelli
Next to the Furfooz park, this activity combines sport and relax. It will also allow you to enjoy the Flobette: the descent of the Lesse in a kayak. A beautiful trip that will take you to the Walzin castle and the Chaleux rock formations. We recommend that you dedicate at least one day to the kayak trip. Take your packed lunch with you for a break and enjoy a little picnic on the meadows along the Lesse descent.
With the company “Dinant évasion” you can rent all your kayaking equipment. This activity is accessible to all and is ideal for family or friends. It is also ideal for good team building. The crossing of the two dams, a unique feature of the Lesse, will make your day! Once you have crossed them you will feel a great thrill.
Kayak in Dinant. Photos by Irene Paolinelli
You can choose from several route alternatives:
- “Houyet-Anseremme” is 21 km away and will take you about 5 hours to do. It is a total escape!
- “Gendron-Anseremme” is 12 km long and takes about 2½ hours on average.
- “Houyet-Gendron” is 9 km long and has an average duration of about 2 hours. On this route, you can relax in complete serenity through the simple pleasure of gliding over the water in the middle of a wooded landscape.
Dinant évasion will also offer you the possibility of combining your kayaking adventure with other fun activities such as paintball, laser games, mountain biking and rail biking.
2. Have a walk in Furfooz Park
Walking in the Park. Photos by ecktiv.nl, cirkwi.com, ardennen.nl
Just 10 minutes from Dinant, the Furfooz park is a little unspoilt nugget. We took a walk in this nature reserve with an atypical route. In addition to the beautiful views of the Lesse and the surrounding nature, there are also ancient ruins from Roman times along the way, as well as caves and strange holes to venture into. It is a fun and easy walk that really allow you to get out into the green and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.
Without stopping on this 4 km natural route and passing all the points of interest, the walk can take about two short hours, or more if you decide to.
La Flobette is the perfect place to take a little gastronomic break during your walk through the heart of nature in Furfooz park. This bar-restaurant and brewery offer homemade and artisanal cuisine based on wild plants found in the surrounding area.
3. The view from the citadel
View from the Citadel. Photo by valloniabelgioturismo.it
Take some altitude, jump into the cable car or, for the sportier, climb the 400 steps to the top of the citadel of Dinant. The view is simply magnificent! Little secret: take the guided tour, it's the only way to get access to the secret rooms and the best view of the citadel!
4. Walking, cycling or boating along the banks of the Meuse
Walking. Photos by Irene Paolinelli
Take a bike ride from Bouvignes-sur-Meuse via Anseremme to Freyr Castle. Explore the town of Dinant on foot, find all the saxophones on display everywhere, go to the house of Leffe or see the cave of Dinant La Merveilleuse. In this part of Belgium, there are so-called ‘bike highways', for example, there are several routes and from Dinant, you can easily cycle to Namur.
5. Visit Mr Sax's House – Maison de Monsieur Sax
Mr Sax’s house in Dinant. Photos by Wikipedia.org e Sax.dinant.be
If you are a jazz lover, this visit must be on your to-do list. What would jazz be without the sound of the saxophone? Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant, the birthplace of the famous instrument maker, soloist, acoustician, composer, conductor, pedagogue and publisher! The House of Monsieur Sax “Maison de Monsieur Sax”, free entry, is not an ordinary museum, but rather an invitation to enter the universe of a multi-talented character. Located in the building where Sax was born, on 6 November 1814, the centre takes you through the fantastic destiny of the saxophone.
6. Enjoy a good Caracole beer
Caracole Beer. Photos by nbcnews.com e Pinterest.com
You cannot come to Belgium and not take the time to visit a brewery and taste a good Belgian beer. The Caracole microbrewery, located in the small village of Falmignoul, a 12-minute drive from Dinant, is a place where beer is brewed over a wood fire! A visit to this atypical place is quick and enriching. On-site, you can taste and buy directly. A place that is full of history and authenticity. We recommend that you try the Troublette and the Saxo!
7. Taste the “couque de Dinant”
Dinant’s Couque. Photos by Wikipedia.org, rtbf.be e vivreabruxelles.be
“The couque of Dinant” is one of the greatest emblems of local tradition. It is a biscuit sculpted like a sweet work of art, famous for its hardness, made from a base of honey, flour and sugar. Another peculiarity is that it is produced in different shapes, inspired by the seasons and festivals. A handy tip for enjoying the “cocque”: don't try to chew them, but suck them like candy.
8. A glass of wine from Château Bon Baron
Château Bon Baron’s wine and Flamiche cake. Photos by d-ici.be and anamericaninantwerp.com
The vineyards of Château Bon Baron, located in the Sambre and Meuse valleys, produce quality wines produced according to tradition and following an ecological approach. These wines bear the protected designation of origin “Côte de Sambre et Meuse”. The Château Bon Baron winery can be visited by appointment. Accompany your glass of Belgian wine with a slice of flamiche, a savoury pie made with cheese, butter and eggs “boulette de Romedenne”. This recipe is said to have originated from the imagination of a farmer who inadvertently dropped a bag containing eggs, butter and cheese. Every 1st September, a competition rewards the biggest eater of flamés!
Dinant is just a small part of beautiful Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium. Browse VISIT Wallonia to discover more nature activities and much more for your green weekend!
