Vierves-sur-Viroin

Vierves-sur-Viroin
Fagne Famenne

The Viroin River traces the border between the Fagne and the Ardennes. This deep valley defines one of Belgium's most beautiful natural settings, offering endless pathways and spectacular views. Vierves is certainly one of its pearls, signaled by the castle towers.

Province : Namur
Commune : Viroinval

The village is grouped around the public square, then crossing the river along the main roads. Crowning the village center a war memorial is placed in open limestone grasslands, ideal place to take your breath and enjoy the scenery. These ancient pastures for sheep, overgrown in the early 20th century , are the beeing restored by the Viroin Natural Parc.

If you wish to be a true connaisseur of Mardi Gras traditions, you will not regret comming to Vierves at dusk. Be shure to come disguised, as all those present are members of the Carnaval!

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Calcareous grasslands

Fagne Famenne

Paysage

The Fagne-Famenne is shaped as a broad depression, grooved by abundant secondairy streams. Stretching between the plateau of Condroz and the forests of the Ardenne, this landscape offers a relatively smooth terrain, structured by wooded stripes, alternating with meadows, punctuated with villages. A particular area, called "Calestienne", rings the shaly depression of the Fagne (west from the Meuse) and of the Famenne (east from the Meuse), thus assuring a visible transition along the Ardenne's plateau. This thin limestone ledge is ligned with long hills, called "tiennes".

In this natural context, people mostly established themselves on the meridional part of the region. Choosing the contact zones between the limestone plateau and the shaly depression, villages have been established close to the springs, taking advantage of the morning sunshine whilst protected from winds, and near the fields. The Fagne-Famenne settelments display an agrair structure matching the openfield model, with predominating meadows. The location for grouwing crops, meadows or woods are dictated by the quality ofthe terrain: The shaly valley bottoms, with their wet and poor grounds, welcome meadows and orchards, where remnants of hedges remain, in the form of non-trimmed bushes. The ledges of the limestone plateau, full of nutritive elements, are occupied by non-enclosed plowings, while the steep slopes and the "tiennes", with their shalow soils, are suitible for woods and extensive grasing areas. Once grazed by sheep, these calcareous grasslands hide a natural habitat full of an exceptionnal biodiversity. In the Famenne, most villages show a high density of houses, with buildings very close to one another. Frequently set on a slope, villages seem to descend from the ridges, though carefully avoiding the bottom of the depression. On the Fagne side, scatered farmhouses are freqeuently found between villages.

Sources : CPDT - FRW

Traditional countryside habitat

In Famenne as in Fagne, rural buildings belong to the "block" farmhouse type, including all functions under one roof: living room or rooms, the stable and barn. Showing the geologic diversity, traditional houses display a wide range of materials and textures. Though limestone, painted or not, is preponderant, the careful observer will detect the presence of shale, sandstone or even red brick. Finally, here and there, some timber framed masonry remains, witnesses of ancien construction traditions.