Hidden behind the small shale farms, "Pépé crochet" sits at the edge of the watering hole. He tells us about life in the days of this charming rustic village's tobacco drying sheds and washhouses.
Leaving Vresse and the bridge over the Semois, Laforêt can be seen behind a canvas of greenery: a small, rustic and wild village, which commands tranquillity. This is undoubtedly due to the legends and mysteries that dot its alleys: from the fountain, the wild hunter, the white lady, the “verbouc” (half-man half-goat) and the “nutons” (ancestral elves) appear at the corner of a path or a bend.
The wide and deep houses are built in schist around the church of St. Agatha. This habitat is covered by large and very special roofs, known as “faisiaux” (slate quarry waste). A typical Ardennes decor completes the whole: low entrances, lucky and protective hearts on the barns, a bull’s eye in shale, wooden doors and windows frames. Once surrounded by tobacco fields, Laforêt still has drying sheds, a reminder of the region’s wealth. Other witnesses to the organisation of daily life in the past abound: washhouses, watering places and fountains. Below the village, in summer, a woven wooden (lattice) footbridge is thrown over the Semois. It’s the heritage of the tobacco planters who used to reach the fertile farmland along the river without making a detour.
Embark with us to experience intense and unforgettable moments in the pure tradition of our Beautiful Villages!
On Wednesday 05 July, the heart of Crupet was in the spotlight...
The "rock walk" was recently inaugurated. Educational panels, signposting, benches and equipment now line the route, to the delight of the village community and everyone else!
We're off to JAPAN for a little feedback on the General Assembly of the Most Beautiful Villages on Earth, held there from 23 to 27 May 2023.
Join us on Monday 24 July 202 in CELLES (Houyet) to cheer on the professional cyclists of the ETHIAS TOUR DE WALLONIE as they pass through our beautiful village!
This walk along the Semois will feature concerts and allow you to discover the village of Chassepierre in a romantic gypsy/jazz musical atmosphere.
[JULY 2023] Find ideas for activities and events in the network's villages!
In the image of its neighbour Mélin, Saint-Remy-Geest has a white glow throughout its streets and alleys.
Laforêt, an Ardennes village in the commune of Vresse-sur-Semois, is situated on the left bank of the Semois.
The aptly named Laforêt is located along the Semois in the heart of the Ardennes woodland.
This 90-kilometre tour reveals the beauties of 4 beautiful and authentic villages for discovering one of the most emblematic regions of Wallonia.
The association Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie (The Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia) oversees a network of 32 villages, bearers of a strong territorial identity and reflecting traditional architecture. It is committed to promoting the rural, cultural and natural heritage of Wallonia and is a part of the development of local and responsible tourism.
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