The Caves of Han-sur-Lesse have re-opened this Saturday, after almost three months of closure.
The réouverture mode Covid-19 provided a range of health measures to be observed. Now, and until further order, the visits are done in small groups, following the original itinerary, in order to ensure the separation physical. Not disappointing the first visitors, already many this Saturday.
Small groups in a short circuit
“Over 350 people have visited the caves of Han, this Saturday”, explained the responsible of the site. It is less than normal, but it is already a lot for a reopening under the health protocol. “The public was eager to come (re) visit of the caves,” explains Brigitte Malou, the head of the field. “To visit the caves to the public (except the subscribers) must book their entry in advance. The discovery of the site will be done by groups of maximum 20 people. Because of the safety instructions, we had to completely review our terms and conditions, whether at the level of the ticket office, of the circuit, dining areas, or to the rest of the field. The route has been changed. It is shorter, but less tiring and unpublished. It is a loop, in fact ! We enter and one leaves at the same place. Is by the output in the usual way. Another change : the small rooms that we could see upstream are temporarily closed to the public, for practical reasons and health. In effect, these parts are more confined and ensuring that social distancing would have been too complicated.”
Move along, there’s nothing to photograph
Advance reservations, a limited number of stops to large halls, wearing a mask strongly recommended, railings disinfected, hydroalcoholic gel,… This is for the main other measures, including the prohibition of stopping at certain places, usually popular for breaks and photos. “We didn’t want the groups collide”, explains the boss. “We have taken measures to avoid the formation of queues, which would have been a problem in terms of distancing physical”.
Frogs on the ground
To ensure the distancing of physical, markings have been painted on the ground. “These markings have the form of small frogs white,” says Guy Evrard, deputy head. “These are visual cues separated from 1m50. Others designate the places where the public must place to listen to the explanations of the guide. The manager has had the idea of a symbol representing a frog in reference to the many frogs present in the cave”.
As in other tourist sites, the new route to the caves of Han also has terminals of disinfectant gel. Surfaces likely to be affected are disinfected. The staff wear a protective mask. “And more, the current of air of the caves helps to renew the air, which greatly reduces the risk of pockets of stagnant air)”, emphasized Guy Evrard.
Visit otherwise
Course modified and restricted public, for Melanie, one of the guides, the current formula also benefits. “This is not more complicated for us. And I would even say that these calm conditions allow the public to better enjoy the visit. We have more time for our explanations, too.”
This is a view shared by this visitor flemish : “It is a wonderful place ! And the visit in these terms, it is pleasant. The course is limited. But this makes us want to come back later to rediscover the site in a more comprehensive manner”. And to enjoy the great classic of the end of the visit, currently suspended for practical reasons : the world-famous cannon can hear the reverb of the site.
The squatters of the containment
The site has been closed to the public for approximately three months. It was not completely deserted. “Animals have enjoyed the quiet and the lack of visitors”, explains Guy Evrard. “Frogs, bats, insects and weasels were more numerous than usual. But the most surprising was the presence of a beaver which one can still see the traces here. It is really an effect of the confinement”.
The reopening of the site will, without doubt, displeasing to the wildlife. But it satisfies the public and makes a bubble of oxygen to the managers of the domain. In 3 months of closure due to the containment, the site has lost approximately 1 million euros.
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