Phone +32 84 37 72 13 | ||
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Address Rue Joseph Lamotte 2, 5580 Han-sur-Lesse, Belgium Similar Lesse, Château de Lavaux‑Sainte‑Anne, Castle of Vêves, Euro Space Center, Musée du Monde Souterrain Profiles | ||
Hundred metres down in the caves of han sur lesse
The Caves of Han-sur-Lesse (in French: Grottes de Han-sur-Lesse or simply Grottes de Han) are a major Belgian tourist attraction (around half a million visitors per year) located on the outskirts of the village of Han-sur-Lesse.
The caves are the result of the underground erosion of a limestone hill by the river Lesse. The river forces its way under the hill over a distance of over 1 kilometer (1⁄2 mi) as the crow flies. The caves have a constant temperature of 13 °C (55 °F) and a high level of humidity. Access is only possible via a vintage streetcar, a remnant of the country's once extensive vicinal tramway system, which departs from the center of Han-sur-Lesse. The entry to the caves is about 2 km (1 1⁄4 mi) from the village. The guided tour takes about an hour to an hour and a half and includes a sound and light show in one of the largest chambers of the cave and an ending with a simulated cannon shot to demonstrate the cave's acoustic properties.