Bouillon suits small parties who want a castle town on the Semois, with homes for four to six and private pools common. It sits right on the French border. Without a car the journey from Brussels means changing from train to bus, so driving is far simpler.
Bouillon is a small town in the Belgian Ardennes on the bank of the Semois, directly on the French border, and its castle dominates the look of the place. The castle stands on a rocky spur within a sharp bend of the river and is open to the public. It is first mentioned in 988, and it passed to Godfrey of Bouillon in 1082. In the late 17th century Vauban fitted it for heavy artillery. The Pont de France is one of the bridges over the Semois. The homes all sit in the town itself; they are small, sleeping four to six, and most have a private pool. Check castle opening times before an off-season visit.
District of the Bouillon municipality, home to the Château de Dohan, a fortified ferme-château that is a registered monument.
Railway station where you change from the Brussels train to the line 8 bus that runs on to Bouillon.
Brussels is the practical starting point. There is no direct train from Brussels to Bouillon: take the train to Libramont, then the line 8 bus, about three and three-quarter hours in all. Driving from Brussels takes around an hour and fifty minutes, and a car is the easier way to get about.
Yes. Bouillon Castle stands on a rocky spur above the town, inside a sharp bend of the Semois, and is open to the public. It is first mentioned in 988, and it passed to Godfrey of Bouillon in 1082.
You can, but not directly. There is no direct connection, so you take the train to Libramont and change to the line 8 bus for Bouillon. The whole trip takes about three and three-quarter hours.
The Semois. The town lies on its bank in the Ardennes, in the south-east of Belgium, directly on the French border, and the castle sits within a sharp bend of the river.
Most do. Villas here are generally small, sleeping four to six, and a private pool is the norm.
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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