Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU) to Franchimont

The drive from Brussels Airport to Franchimont

The route covers 126 km (79 miles) and normally takes around 1 h 21 m. Most of the distance is on motorway, followed by smaller roads in the final stretch. Traffic around Brussels and Liège can be heavy at weekday rush hours, so allow some extra time if you have a fixed appointment or a check-in deadline. In winter, the hilly countryside of the Ardennes edge can also slow things down in bad weather.

Franchimont is a less frequently booked destination, but transfers there are available on request like any other route, and the driver plans the trip around your arrival.

Choosing the right vehicle

For couples, solo travellers and small families, a private taxi is the simplest option: one version takes up to 3 passengers, the other up to 4. Larger parties can choose a private minibus with 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 or 48 seats, which suits family reunions, wedding guests, hiking clubs or business groups travelling together with luggage. Pick the vehicle by the number of people and bags, and you will have room to spare after a long flight.

Franchimont as a destination

Franchimont is best known for the ruins of Franchimont Castle, a medieval fortress on a hill above the Hoëgne valley near Theux, in the province of Liège. The area is green and wooded, and popular with walkers, cyclists and visitors who come for the castle and the nearby Ardennes landscapes. It is a quiet place, so a pre-arranged transfer is far more practical than looking for a ride on arrival.

Where to stay near Franchimont

Franchimont itself is small, so for a well-known choice of hotels the nearest town to look at is Spa, a short drive away and long established as a thermal resort. Two names stand out there:

• Radisson Blu Palace Hotel, a grand hotel in the centre of Spa.
• Hôtel Balmoral, a traditional hotel set on the wooded hillside above the town.

Give your driver the exact address of your accommodation when you book, since some country roads around Franchimont and Spa are narrow and hard to find.

Meeting Point

Your driver waits at Java Coffee House with a personalised name sign. The spot is easy to find once you have collected your luggage, so you can meet your driver without any searching.