UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne: Wellin Geotrail "On the borders of the Calestienne and the Ardennes"

Gîte farm "Anastasia" is a partner of the Geopark Famenne-Ardenne. Our partners receive the label "Geopark Famenne-Ardenne", an area recognized by UNESCO. What is it you do? "We are a permaculture farm, constantly experimenting and engaged in sustainable farming for over 25 years. We currently offer a large-capacity gîtein a separate eco-building built from solid wood." What prompted you to seek "Famenne-Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark Partner" status? "I am so proud of our region winning this UNESCO status. I have worked in the Geopark for the past 20 years, in the Caves of Han to be precise, and been involved in promoting it, and I have an abiding love for the land, so I would be immensely proud to represent the Geopark through our gîte." What is your approach to sustainable development and environment friendly practices? "We have always been committed to eco-friendly practices and sustainable development. All the materials used for the gîte are green, low-energy (even lower than low-energy, since we used solid wood!), and untreated. Rainwater is captured and treated by lagooning, then filtered by reverse osmosis. We use solar panels and our heating is provided by a large wood-burning boiler. We farm sustainably, without mechanization, focusing on humanising the way we treat the land." Isabelle Köchli - Manager Contact details: Les Hayettes, 126 6920 Wellin 084 38 96 67 koechli.isabelle@gmail.com Facebook fermearcenciel.be

The church of Saint Remacle, with its imposing square tower, dates from 1766 and was originally dedicated to Saint Martin. And yet it lies at the centre of a fortified place dating from feudal times, although the enclosure and the ditch have been breached at several points. The archaeological excavations also revealed a gateway into the enclosure. The line of the enclosure is fairly easy to trace, since it corresponds fairly closely to the lanes surrounding the church and the former parish cemetery.This 18th century building is an integral part of Wellin’s scenery and played an important role in its history, including serving as a place of refuge for the townsfolk in times of war.Inside the church, you will find Romanesque baptismal fonts dating from the early 13th century. Interestingly, given the nature of the soil found in the Famenne-Ardenne Geopark, the fonts are flanked by four limestone heads standing 94 cm high.

Maison Lefebvre et Fils is a partner of the Geopark Famenne-Ardenne. Our partners are awarded the label "Geopark Famenne-Ardenne", a territory recognised by UNESCO. What is it you do? "Maison Lefevbre & Fils is a butcher's and delicatessen that also provides catering services. We are proud of our heritage as craft butchers through three generations. The vast majority of our products are locally sourced, and we continue to follow traditional production methods and recipes. Our smoked products are prepared in a traditional smoker dating back over 80 years." What prompted you to seek "Famenne-Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark Partner" status? "The spirit behind the Geopark chimes with our philosophy of adhering exclusively to traditional methods for three generations. Since 1952, we have been providers of Walloon and primarily local products, prepared according to age-old tradition. We aim to introduce our customers to quality craft-made products that reflect our knowhow and the best our lovely region has to offer." What is your approach to sustainable development and environment friendly practices? "We are very keen on using green energy in this establishment, and we employ a specialist firm to sort all our waste. We work with local producers and act as ambassadors for short food supply chains and for traditional craft-based expertise. We are also very much part of the local community in Wellin, and we take part in and sponsor the Wellin Carnival." Benjamin Lefebvre, General Manager Contact details: rue de Beauraing, 182B 6920 Wellin 084 38 83 59 info@boucherielefebvre.com boucherielefebvre.com

The mill at Lomprez is part of a group of buildings belonging historically to the fortified village of Lomprez. The mill stands alongside an imposing farmhouse said to date from the same period as a mediaeval castle built in the 12th century. The pond that once fed the millstream was dug out subsequently, on the orders of the Count La Roche. The mill is the last surviving building from this mediaeval period, and continued to operate as a working mill until 1920. The millwheel has now undergone renovation and the millpond has been replaced by a car park and a village hall (just behind you). Do pay a visit to the mill, if time permits: it is a unique opportunity for a close-up view of all the complicated machinery of millstones, sifters, hoppers, bucket conveyors and gear wheels, all still in place and all looking ready to resume their old tasks at a moment’s notice.

Sohier stands on the borders of the Calestienne and the Ardennes, and is famous for its architectural heritage: this includes in particular its many traditional houses and its 13 farms, all now beautifully restored and maintained, but not forgetting its scenic views, its ancient oak, the Gros Chêne, its former school, the church of Saint-Lambert (1870) and the presbytery. It is the quality and uniformity of its buildings, most built from natural stone in the 19th century, that has earned Sohier recognition as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Wallonia”. The photo shows a section of the outer wall of one of the village farmhouses. Alongside the greyish limestone fieldstones (easily identified by their smooth surface), you can also see various colours of sandstone (generally greenish, but sometimes brownish or red and with a rough surface). But the villagers of Sohier can also take some of the credit for the accolade bestowed on their village: every year, at the start of summer, the entire village is filled with flowers. Sohier also has a long history. The burial ground discovered at the spot known as “Le Gibet” (the gibbet) has yieldedevidence of Gallo-Roman occupation in the 1st century. Excavations have revealed pottery, coins and other artefacts. In later times, the village grew up around its fortress, which was originally encircled by a moat. Over a period of four centuries, just three families, all inter-related, held the Seigneury and castle of Sohier.

The Drève des Tilleuls and the Neo-Gothic Chapel This is the final stopping-place on your walk through the region of Wellin. The Drève, an avenue of linden trees, stands slightly outside the village on a hillside of clastic rock, and offers an impressive panorama. To the south, the land rises fairly smoothly, pastures fading in the distance into deep forests: this is the Ardennes. In the opposite direction, looking northward, the terrain is more varied. In the foreground, you can make out a depression, La Grande Fagne, carved out of soft rock easily eroded by a combination of frost and run-off, and by root action. This rock has the composition of clay but has been consolidated by a lengthy geological process into a hard rock known to geologists as schist. Beyond this depression, the land rises towards a wooded hill running east to west, the Tienne de Reumont. Walking this hill, you will note a number of limestone outcrops indicating that we have now entered the Calestienne. After a stretch of schists, the limestone strip continues for over a kilometre (Bois de Haur). For an idea of the scale of the strip, we need to look west, towards the bell-tower of Lomprey church; just above the level of the motorway, you can make out the working face of the Limites quarry where the limestone is extracted. To the north of theCalestienne, the broad Famenne depression lies in the shales of the Upper Devonian, before the terrain rises sharply to the Condroz. The Drève des Tilleuls leads to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, built in 1860 on the orders of the Baroness Baré de Comogne. To reach the oratory, you must first negotiate the magnificent alley of trees symbolising the seven sorrows of the Virgin. The chapel is neo-Gothic in style and built on asiltstone promontory. And since history is often interwoven with religion, in times of drought the faithful would come together in procession along the avenue to the chapel to pray for rain.