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◆ 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). 12 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 13
◆ Bonnefontaine Abbey - D1 The old Cistercian abbey of Bonnefontaine, in the town of Blanchefosse-et-Bay, is now private property. From Rue du Moulin, you can see the gable on the right arm of the transept in the abbey church, with its rose window. Founded in 1175 by Nicolas III of Rumigny, the abbey flourished despite successive waves of pillaging. Its printworks were famous for many years. Its monks, originally from Signy-l’Abbaye, built a Gothic church in the 13th century. The church was connected to the monastery by a cloister. The abbot’s palace dates from the 17th century. As the monks accumulated wealth, they became lazy and gradually relaxed the rules that they found too arduous. By the time of the French Revolution, there were only eight monks left in Bonnefontaine. The abbey became national property and was sold in 1792. Abbaye de Bonnefontaine 08290 BLANCHEFOSSE-ET-BAY (Private property, not open to the public). ◆ Church of St. John the Baptist, Hannappes - C1 The Church of St. John the Baptist in Hannappes deserves to be much better-known than it is. It is a beautiful building of outstanding interest (it is a listed building). Built with ribbed lancet arching and laid out in the form of a Latin Cross, the church has nevertheless retained the squat, solid appearance of Romanesque churches. The crocheted capitals on the entrance were also of Romanesque inspiration. Yet the chancel, transept and chapels are fine examples of Early Gothic with their pointed arches supported by colonnettes (entrance) and ribbed vaulting elsewhere. Although not fortified, the church was often used as a refuge and used to contain a well. Église Saint Jean-Baptiste de Hannappes 08290 HANNAPPES 14 ◆ Château de l’Echelle - C3 Located on the hilltops near "Grant Mont", bounded by the Sormonne Valley to the north and Audry Valley to the south, the village of Echelle is undoubtedly one of the most typical Ardennes villages in the region. The 16th-century castle opposite the church is still an impressive sight. It is laid out as a square, flanked by massive towers. In the village of L’Echelle, you will also find a school museum (musée de l’École d’Hier), church, old wash-house and arboretum. Le Château de l’Echelle - 08150 L’ECHELLE ◆ La Ganguille barrow (Saint-Marcel) - D3 The Ganguille barrow in Giraumont dates from some 2,000 years B.C. It is approximately 5 metres long and consists of three slabs of sandstone weighing up to 10 tonnes covering two chambers and supported by walls of dressed stone. A Gallic grave was randomly added to the side at a later date. Dolmen de la Ganguille Giraumont - 08460 SAINT-MARCEL ◆ The Daudece Tower - C3 Nestling in the Sormonne Valley, the village of Le Châtelet-sur-Sormonne is watched over by a tower high above the river. This is the Daudece Tower, a reminder of the old fortified house (extensively altered). It is said to have been erected on a very old site. In 1792, when it was partially demolished, Roman coins were found here. La Tour Daudece - Le Chatelet Bas - 08150 LE CHATELET SUR SORMONNE ◆ Blombay Mill - C2/C3 In the village of Blombay, at an altitude of 300 metres, is a fully-restored windmill. Le Moulin de Blombay 08260 BLOMBAY (Private property, not open to the public). 15
Page 1 and 2: Map L ocated to the north of the Ch
Page 3 and 4: Tourism office of Rocroy and North-
Page 5 and 6: Hint ofHeritage ◆ Rocroi, a star-
Page 7 and 8: ◆ Fortified church in Aouste - C2
Page 9: ◆ St. Martin’s fortified church
Page 13 and 14: ◆ School Museum - C3 Housed in th
Page 15 and 16: Map of North-West Ardennes
Page 17 and 18: D onkey rides ◆ “Rando Anes”
Page 19 and 20: 26 26 Arts &Crafts ◆ Maubert Font
Page 21 and 22: GroupAccommodation ◆ Au cœur des
Page 23 and 24: ◆ Rimogne - C3 No. 08MS070 - 3 Cl

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