La Thiérache – Rocroi Plateau – Sormonne Valley - Office de ...

◆ Le Maipas fortified farm - C2
This fortified house set at the end of a vast courtyard is dazzlingly white in the sunshine.
Initially, only its roof emerges from the floor of the valley. There are four corner towers
flanking the main house, topped by a carved stone cornice.
In 1650, Louys de Brodard was Lord of Boulan, La Loge Rosette and Le Maipas, in the
community of Antheny, within the barony of Rumigny. The Brodard house was in the
Rocroi area after the imperial Spanish troops had passed through and in the days when the
metalworking industry was revived on the River Eau Noire.
In the second half of the 17th century, in 1657 to be precise, the family’s descendent, Lord de
Maipas, was standing in front of the great fireplace, warming himself in the house hidden
in the valley. It was the time of the Thirty Years’ War. He did not have to suffer like the
villagers in Prez whose houses were set alight by the enemy. Was he saved by his stone house
or by its isolated location?
Ferme fortifiée du Maipas
08290 PREZ
(Private property, not open to the public).
◆ Fortified house in Wartigny - C3
In the hamlet of Wartigny, which lies within the boundaries of Murtin-Bogny, is another
fortified building, once a fortified house and now a farm. It is said to have been Antoine de
Croy who had the house in Wartigny fortified to provide protection against the gangs of
unemployed soldiers who were ravaging the area in 1450. After the French Revolution, like
most aristocratic residences, Wartigny Castle was partially demolished. The only reminder
of the past still visible today is a turret with black brick bonding.
Maison forte de Wartigny -
Hameau de Wartigny
08150 MURTIN-BOGNY
(Private property, not open to the public).
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In addition to its fortified houses and churches,
North-West Ardennes has much, much more
to offer tourists.
◆ Rimogne, the Slate Town - C3
The slate-bearing schists of the primary Ardennes were formed during
the hercynian folding of the Cambrian uplands. Rimogne
was one of the main slate-quarrying locations in addition to
those in the Meuse Valley. For centuries, the town gained its
income from the slate that has left its mark on the surrounding
landscape. Slate quarrying began in 1158 when
Pierre de Montcornet granted the monks of Signy the right
to search for slate within the boundaries of Rimogne and Le
Châtelet and extract what they considered to be a “reasonable”
amount. From the 13th century onwards, licences were granted in
increasing numbers and slate quarrying reached its peak in the mid 19th
century. After the euphoria that followed the First World War came the economic slump.
Then, despite a few attempts at modernisation after the Second World War, the slate
quarries closed down.
Rimogne slate can be blue or green. It is a luxurious building
material that owes its reputation to its many properties. It is
waterproof, flexible, incombustible, resistant to acid and
shockproof. It can also last for more than 150 years. In fact, Rimogne
slate has often been used for historic buildings.
Although slate quarrying has now ceased, slate is still to be
seen in the village of Rimogne. It clads the edge of the
St. Quentin well, there are 19th-century slate graves in the
cemetery, the stained-glass windows in the church were
donated by slate quarriers and the tradition of St. Barbara,
patron saint of slate quarriers, is still alive and well.
Information:
Website on Rimogne‘s past - www.surlesentierdupasse.fr
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