Gendron - Walking trail - Roadbook Famenne-Ardennes

The current church was built in 1861 on the location of a former chapel. The interior was restored in 1955 using money mostly collected in the parish. Before the 1940 war, there were two bells weighing 445 and 220 kg. The larger bell was seized by the Germans during the occupation to be re-melted, as was often done during the Second World War. The church bell was replaced in 1950 using money from public subscriptions.

Feast your eyes on the lush landscapes surrounding you!

Once you have reached the bridge, you are at the confluent of the Lesse and the Iwoigne. This stream, an affluent of the Lesse, starts out in Chevetogne, meanders through Custinne, and flows into the Lesse.A bit lower to your right is the Lesse, emblematic river of the region. The Lesse takes its source in the province of Luxembourg, more precisely in Ochamps, and meanders north for 84 kilometres. It flows through the villages of Daverdisse, Halma, Chanly, and Resteigne, then rushes into the swallow hole of Belvaux on the heights of Han-sur-Lesse, before reappearing at the cave exit and continuing on toward Lessive, Villers-sur-Lesse, and Houyet, ending its course in Anseremme, where it flows into the Meuse. 

A few hundred metres to your right are the woods of the Royal Trust.They encompass the Royal Golf Club of the ‘Château Royal d’Ardennes’ (private property), with its famous Léopold Tower, built in 1843 on the model of the tower in Windsor Park.The district of Houyet is often referred to as the “royal district” due to its rich royal past and because the village of Ciergnon hosts the royal castle, a residence assigned to the use of the current ruling family.It was Léopold II–known as the Builder King–who had the royal castle of the Ardennes built in 1874 in Houyet, in the beautiful park of the domain of the Ardennes. This castle became a reference for the royalty and a hot spot for tourism. A park with ponds was created and Léopold II turned the castle into the place for the hunting parties organised by the rich clientele from Ostend.After the construction of the railroad between Gendron-Celles and Houyet in 1896, a train station was built, the "royal stop of the Ardennes", to welcome the members of the European aristocracy and other eminent guests to the castle converted into a luxury hotel.A round wall adjoining the railroad was built, surmounted by a crenellated turret.The wall indicates the road that leads to the castle through the woods. In the 1970’s, several buildings belonging to the domain were destroyed, but the “train station” remained intact.The station was closed in 1919, as the luxury hotel had closed down after being severely damaged during the First World War. In 1921, the hotel was reopened, but the station remained definitively closed

All along this path, note the magnificent oak, birch, maple, and pine trees, sometimes beautifully clad with ivy.The hillsides abound with an array of wild plants and flowers: ferns, wild thyme, wild blackberries, anemones, and even a spectacular romantic waterfall covered in lichen on your right.

Please make sure you close the gate behind you to prevent wild animals from damaging the surrounding crop fields. The region of Houyet is abounding in game, such as deer, wild boar, foxes, partridges, etc. It is even said that this is one of the reasons that led King Léopold, the first king of the Belgians, to build the royal castle in Ciergnon. He was a fervent hunter, and it is said that it was in the woods of Custinne, on the spot thereafter known as the Tomb of the Wolf, that King Léopold I killed an enormous wolf reputed to be the last in the region. The residence is currently used by the ruling family. The many deer in the region also had a role to play in the cutlery works of Houyet. The workshop produced knives with horn handles for hunting, etc., and once enjoyed great renown. What's more, it is thought that the workshop of the collective was built upon request of Léopold I around 1850-1851. The knife handles were mostly made with bovid horns (from cows from local farms, but also from African water buffaloes), but when horn was scarce, for example during the two World Wars, they also used deer antlers and wood.

The hamlet of Gendron has provided us with many testimonies of man’s habitat in prehistoric times: the cavern of Gendron, said to be located among the gnome holes, was a sepulchre from the Neolithic Era, where 17 skeletons were found. The inhabitants of Gendron used to be referred to as “Marauds” (rascals), as well as gnomes, because of their quiet manners and due to the innumerable gnome holes around the village.

From your starting point, skirt around the church on the right and go down Rue de la Chapelle du Comte. Continue along this road for 800 metres, and when you reach the fork in the road with the white cross, ignore the road that goes down to the left toward tennis court, and continue straight ahead. At the end of a 1.1-kilometre descent, you will reach the Chapelle du Comte. It is on your right, hidden from view by some imposing coniferous trees.The chapel–an octagonal mono-nave–was built in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in memory of Count Hadelin de Liedekerke-Beaufort (a descendant of the first lords of Celles, who was named after the founding Saint, which was a common occurrence at the time). He died on this spot in a hunting accident on January 7, 1674. The detour is worthwhile, especially for the exceptional views of the surrounding scenery.