Bouillon en Semis-meander

Castle above the river

Bouillon is one of those places you understand immediately the moment you walk up the hill. Below, the Semois winds around the town in almost a full circle. Above, on the rocky outcrop, stands the castle. It is not a subtle landscape. It is emphatic, almost theatrical, and that is what makes it interesting to photograph.

The river loop is the most distinctive image. You photograph it best from one of the high viewpoints to the north or south of the castle. With a focal length between 35mm and 85mm you get the castle, the meander and the forested slopes all in the frame. Want the bend to look more compact, more graphic? A telephoto lens works better for that. The hills rise steeply, so even a moderate tele compresses the layers nicely.

Light and season

Autumn is the strongest period. The forests around Bouillon turn deep red, orange and yellow, and those warm tones work well against the grey stone of the castle. Early in the morning there is often mist hanging over the Semois. That mist fills the valleys and lets the hills and the castle rise above the white layer like islands. That is the moment you are waiting for. Check the temperature differences the evening before. A cold night after a warm day gives the best chance of mist forming.

In summer it is busier and the green more monotonous. The light is harder and the contrasts smaller. Unless you are deliberately choosing summer crowds as a subject, autumn or early spring is more pleasant to work in.

The castle up close

The castle itself is also worth visiting as an architectural subject. It is largely intact and you can photograph inside. The narrow passages, stone walls and views from the towers offer different compositions from the wide landscape perspective. A wide-angle lens or a fixed 24mm works well here. Interior light is limited, so allow for higher ISO values or a tripod if you want to capture the interiors.

Practical

Parking can be tricky in season. The town is small and the streets are narrow. There are car parks on the edge of the centre, and from there you can walk to most viewpoints within ten to twenty minutes. For viewpoints outside the centre, a car is more convenient. The castle has regular opening times and an entrance fee. Go early if you want to photograph the surroundings in the morning mist, then you will have the streets and viewpoints to yourself.

Sources and further reading

• Château Fort de Bouillon (officiële site)
• Visit Luxembourg (BE) — Bouillon
• Wikipedia — Bouillon (stad)