Destination
La Roche beneath the castle
A village in a bend of the Ourthe, with a ruined castle on the rock above it. Everything a group needs is within walking distance.
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125 homes in the Ardennes
This destination
What a group does here
La Roche is the only village among our ten destinations where a group can do everything on foot. The canoe rental, the supermarket, the bakery and four restaurants are all within three hundred meters of each other. The castle above is a ruin, and you can walk around it in half an hour, with views of the valley where the Ourthe winds through. Along the quay, butchers sell Ardennes ham and the bakery opens early.
That makes this destination a good fit for groups where not everyone has a car. You rent one van for the groceries and everyone else walks. During the day you hop into a canoe at the quay, or hike for an hour and a half to the Le Cielle viewpoint. With kids, you can stroll through the wildlife park in an hour, past deer, mouflon and wild boar. From the end of September, three places in the village put a game group menu on the card. In July and August the village is busy, because it's a popular spot for day trippers. Outside those months, the terraces along the quay are mostly empty.
Season
Fall versus high summer
In the fall the Ourthe is high enough for canoeing and the terraces along the quay are empty. In July you share the village with busloads of day trippers and you'll need to reserve a table. The game season starts here at the end of September, and then three places in the village put a group menu on the card.
- Castle ruin above the village, a half-hour walk around it
- Canoeing on the Ourthe, getting in at the quay
- Game menu from the end of September, groups by reservation
- Hike to the Le Cielle viewpoint, an hour and a half
Out and about
Where you'll go
La Roche sits in a bend of the Ourthe, with almost everything within walking distance. If you leave the car parked for a day, you can walk to the castle, the quay and the wildlife park.
By group
Heading to La Roche with your group
Family
The wildlife park and the castle are both within walking distance of the village.
With your family
Friends
Canoe on the Ourthe and have game for dinner at the quay in the evening.
For friend groups
Sports
Steep mountain bike routes around the meanders of the Ourthe.
For sports groups
Team building
Everything is within walking distance, so the bus can stay parked all day.
For team building
Stories
Read more about La Roche
Sights for a Group
Caves, castles, viewpoints, and adventure parks. Which places can handle thirty people, and what to arrange ahead of time.
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Biking and MTB with a Group
How to get a group with different skill levels over a single route without losing anyone.
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Why October works better than August for groups
Long weekends instead of full weeks, and houses that aren't available in summer.
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Ingrid on this destination
Ingrid picks the home within walking distance of the quay. Ask her which ones those are, because the rest of the homes are up on the hill.
IngridArdennes specialistContact How long is the drive to the Ardennes?
That depends a lot on where you're leaving from and where in the Ardennes your accommodation is located.
From the center of the Netherlands, you can often be in the Ardennes in about three to four hours. From the south of the Netherlands and large parts of Belgium, the travel time is often considerably shorter.
That makes the Ardennes ideal for a weekend away: you really get away, without spending a whole day traveling.
Can we come by tour bus?
At some accommodations, a tour bus can get right up to or close to the house. Other houses are on a narrower or steeper road, for example.
Coming by tour bus? Let us know in advance. Then we can check whether the accommodation is easy to reach for a bus.
What is there to do in the Ardennes?
A lot. And that's exactly why we're so excited about this region.
Think hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, visiting caves, discovering castles, exploring charming towns, or simply enjoying time together around the house.
The options vary by region and season.