Bohan: Rocks, River and Walking Trails

Rocks, water and local history shape Bohan in different ways. Walks lead to striking landscape features, the Sautou stream plunges through a gorge, and along the Semois you’ll find both a historic site and a place to launch for a kayaking trip. There’s also a cultural history that spans tobacco growing and a grotto. You can plan your stay according to whether you’d rather explore on foot, experience the river or learn about the area’s history.

Walking trails with different highlights

The Balade de la Table des Fées is a 4.3-kilometre circular trail that starts in Bohan. The Promenade de la Table des Fées starts at the church in Bohan and leads to four legendary sites. The Vallée des Baraques circular trail is 11.4 kilometres long; the hike starts in Bohan and is classified as difficult. The distances and difficulty rating offer different points of reference for planning: a shorter circular walk contrasts with a longer hike that is explicitly rated as difficult. Walking time cannot be determined from the distances alone.

La Cheminée also combines a specific trail with a viewpoint. A small path, partly cut into the rock, leads there. From the peaks of La Cheminée, you can look out over the Blanches Roches massif on the opposite side. La Cheminée is in Parc national de Membre-Bohan. The Sautou stream reveals another side of the landscape: between Membre and Bohan, it cuts through a gorge with a gradient of 34 percent. On its way to the Semois, it forms a series of cascades and waterfalls. A small path follows the stream.

Experience the river and rocks

For an activity on the water, Kayaks de la Semois offers trips down the Semois between Bouillon and Bohan. The launch and landing point for the kayaking trip in Bohan is on the left bank, downstream from the Pont de Bohan. This lets you connect the river route with a clearly named landmark in the village.

You’ll also encounter the rocky landscape at the Grotte ND de Lourdes. It lies at the foot of Roche la Dame, right beside the Semois. The site was blessed on 12 June 1921 by Heylen, Bishop of Namur. A mass is celebrated there every year on 16 August. If this date matters for your trip, check locally for details of this year’s celebration.

Tobacco-growing history in Bohan

Another trace of local history leads to the Route du Tabac. Its visitor stops in Bohan include a tobacco teaching garden, opposite the Martin family’s tobacco shop. The history of tobacco growing also goes back a long way: the first tobacco growers’ association in Bohan was founded around 1900. The garden, shop and association’s founding offer different ways to explore the subject—from a specific place in the village to the history of organised tobacco growing.

Find the right holiday rental for your plans

If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Bohan, the walks that start in the village can be a useful reference point when planning your trip. First, consider whether you’d prefer a shorter circular walk, the Vallée des Baraques hike, which is rated as difficult, or a focus on the river and local history. The named trails, the Sautou stream gorge and the Semois offer different themes for your days; which one matters most depends on your interests. This makes it easier to choose Bohan as a destination based on the experiences that appeal to you most.

Discover more destinations: Laforêt, Chairière, Orchimont, Alle-Sur-Semois, Nafraiture.

Back to the main travel overview: Vresse-Sur-Semois.