Southern Belgium truly brings history alive. In the heart of Wallonia’s UNESCO Global Geopark, take the 100-year-old tram from the village to the cave entrance to explore the world-famous underground world of the Caves of Han-sur-Lesse, near Rochefort. Over time, the water has carved and shaped the rocks into many haunting caverns, crevices, mysterious galleries, and majestic rooms. The fossils embedded in the cave walls are a reminder of the ocean of creatures that once swam here. The 3D light show Origin immerses visitors in the origins of the universe, going back to the Big Bang and presenting an exploration of the subterranean world. Like an underground nightclub, it uses the latest video mapping technologies to recreate the story of times past in these dramatic underground galleries.
Set in green countryside near the city of Mons lies another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes, or SILEX'S. Dotted with thousands of mine shafts, the site extends over 100 acres and is one of the oldest and largest centers for the extraction of flint in Europe. The pits, dug by prehistoric miners, extended up to 16 meters in depth, which required new techniques to extract the large slabs of flint, sometimes weighing several hundred kilos. These workers were the first human engineers, developing ingenious flint cutting techniques. The information center provides in-depth insight into this internationally acclaimed archaeological site. Archaeologists have fully excavated a few mines, so at designated times, visitors can even descend nine meters underground into one of the mine shafts!
For visitors seeking an adventure spanning several periods in time, Archeosite at Beloeil offers a 5000-year journey, primarily outdoors, into the Neolithic period, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. On certain weekends tradesmen demonstrate everything from bone carving and weaving to tapestry, pottery and blacksmithing. You can even wander through different eras, from the homes of early farmers in the Neolithic period to more complex Gallo-Roman structures such as a temple, a villa, and a barge. For the more spiritually minded there is also a sanctuary addressing the cults and beliefs practiced during antiquity.
Bouillon is the most important and attractive town in the Semois valley. For a special medieval adventure, visit the town’s perfectly preserved, fortified medieval castle at night, when you can experience a real feudal ambience by torchlight. You can also watch a demonstration of the ancient sport of falconry. Be sure to visit the multimedia Archéoscope and relive the First Crusades, dating back to 1096, using immersive technology to bring them to life through special effects, sound, and narration. Other highlights include a fabulous medieval cheese cellar and a chance to explore dungeons and medieval torture chambers, taking you back to the gory history of this 8th-century building.
