Why Choose Poupehan for Your Kayak Descent?
Poupehan is a peninsula village enclosed by a meander of the Semois, where secret history, tobacco heritage and wild nature create a unique setting for kayaking.
Poupehan, whose suffix “-han” means “meander settlement”, belongs to the municipality of Bouillon. The Semois surrounds this village, which is a genuine terrestrial peninsula in the heart of the Luxembourg province. Only winding roads lead to it, which adds to the feeling of isolation and authenticity.
Kayaking in Poupehan offers total immersion in the Semois Valley National Park. The moment you embark, you are paddling through one of the sharpest meanders of the river, between steep slopes covered in dense forest and slate shale cliffs that rise as high as 150 meters above the water.
The village gained unexpected notoriety in February 1982, when the Poupehan Agreements (the secret decision to devalue the Belgian franc by 8.5%) was sealed there by four political figures. The geographic isolation of the village made that state secret possible. Today the same discretion makes Poupehan a paradise for kayaking enthusiasts who want serenity.
🏔️ Meander Village
A natural peninsula enclosed by the Semois, at an altitude of 200-220 m with ridges at 350 m. A magnificent natural amphitheatre, in the heart of the National Park.
🌿 Tobacco Drying Sheds
Distinctive architectural heritage: spruce wood structures that remain from the golden age of Semois tobacco (1856-1950). Some have been converted into charming cottages.
🏛️ 1982 Agreements
Secret location of the devaluation of the Belgian franc. “Between a forest walk and a wood fire, the destiny of a nation was sealed in this meander village.” That is how the story is told.