The caves of Han
De grotten van Han or the caves of Han is a world famous cave which was awarded three Michelin-guide stars. The caves are located in a nature reserve near the village of Han-sur-Lesse in Wallonia.
The caves offer a great day out, especially with kids. You can discover the caves in three dimensions. Firstly, you will enter the caves with antique tram that runs from the nearby town, Han-Sur-Lesse, to the entrance of the caves. From then onwards you will follow a guided tour by foot which takes you on a 3 kilometre adventure through the galleries and passages in the cave. The guides speak several languages and make each tour round the cave unique and entertaining. All galleries are recognised for their own qualities and have been given their own name, such as the Minaret, the Trophy, The Mysterious and the Dome Gallery. During the tour you will not only be able to enjoy the silence and experiment with the acoustics within the cave, you will also pass impressive stalactites, stalagmites and so-called chalk curtains. In the Minaret gallery for example, a five meter high stalagmite can be admired. When you exit the cave you will leave either leave by boat or by foot via a bridge that spans over the river, the Lesse. Traditionally the tour was always completed with a boat trip, but in recent years these seem to be less accessible. If you are lucky you might also hear a shot being fired in the distance, this traditional cannon fire does not only allow you to hear the magnificent acoustic in the cave but are said to be an old tradition in order to scare away the evil spirits that inhabit the caves. This story is developed from legends which originate for the caves’ past as the caves were used in olden days as a place of worship and pilgrimages.
The caves are magnificent for both young and old and are a key touristic player within the region. You can however visit more then simply the caves, as other attractions can be purchased as a combo ticket which makes a great day out with children. As mentioned before the caves of Han are located in a nature reserve, in this reserve a safari park is also based which gives you a truly amazing day out. The speleo game is another addition to the caves which is relatively new and takes place in a cinema room, in which you experience the adventures of the caves with 3D glasses. Finally you could visit “Underworld” which is a museum that has a prestigious collection of archaeological items which were found nearby the caves, some of the items even date back to 5000BC.
Opening time
Daily open from 5 march 2011 until 31 December 2011
Duration: 1 hour 3 minutes
Advice: average temperature is 13°C and damp, so advised to bring warm coats.
Prices
Kids under 4 years old: Free
Kids 4-12 years old: € 9.25
Adults: € 14
Combo tickets which include the Caves of Han, Speleo adventure game, safari park and the Underground world cost €22.5 for adults and € 14 for children between the age of 4 and 12.
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