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 cannon shot to demonstrate the cave's acoustic properties.
Gallery
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The Gouffre de Belvaux, where the Lesse goes underground
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Inside one of the chambers
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Access to the caves is only possible with this historic streetcar
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The exit of the caves
Bibliography
- Stenuit, Robert with Jasinski, Marc (1966). Caves and the marvellous world beneath us. Trans. Harry Pearman. New York: A.S. Barnes and Company.
External links
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