Rochefort, Belgium
Encyclopedia
Rochefort is a Walloon municipality
located in the Belgian
province of Namur
close to the Ardennes
. On January 1, 2006 Rochefort had a total population of 12,038. The total area is 165.27 km² which gives a population density
of 73 inhabitants per km². It was a resort in the 19th century.
Its ancient position at the crossroads where the route to Saint-Hubert
crossed that from Liège to Bouillon
required fortifying: the ruins of the old castle, which gave the place its name and a title to a long line of counts who had the right of coining their own money, still exist. This castle underwent many sieges and suffered at the hands of Marshal de Châtillon (1636).
Near Rochefort are the famous red marble quarries of St Remy, and the old Trappist abbey
of that name is now a Trappist seminary famous for brewing dark and sweet beers, especially the extremely popular Rochefort 10, whose deep dark-brown color and rich, fruity palate inspire a cult following.
are at Han-sur-Lesse
, one of Rochefort's constituent towns, where the river Lesse disappears at what is called the gap or hole of Belvaux and passes by subterranean passages under the hill called Boeme or Boine. The endeavour to trace the course of the river led to the discovery of the grottoes, which consist of fifteen separate connected "halls" that emerge in a bay of the river from a dark and extensive cavern forming a sort of side creek or bay. Except in flood-time, when the exit has to be used, the entrance is near the point where the river disappears at what is called the gap or hole of Belvaux, and the exit is made by boat from the cavern last described, which leads out to the open river. A beautiful effect for tourists in boats is afforded by emerging from the complete darkness of this cavern into the light. The finest stalactites are in the three halls called the Mysterieuses, the Vigneron and the Draperies where is " the tomb", which looks as if chiselled out of white marble. The central hall called the Salle d'Armes ("the Armory") is immense, and one of the river channels flows through it.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
located in the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province of Namur
Namur (province)
Namur is a province of Wallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Walloon provinces of Hainaut, Walloon Brabant, Liège and Luxembourg in Belgium, and on France. Its capital is the city of Namur...
close to the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
. On January 1, 2006 Rochefort had a total population of 12,038. The total area is 165.27 km² which gives a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 73 inhabitants per km². It was a resort in the 19th century.
Its ancient position at the crossroads where the route to Saint-Hubert
Saint-Hubert, Belgium
Saint-Hubert is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg.On 1 January 2007 the municipality, which covers 111.16 km², had 5,737 inhabitants, giving a population density of 51.6 inhabitants per square kilometre....
crossed that from Liège to Bouillon
Bouillon
Bouillon is a municipality in Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Luxembourg Province.The municipality, which covers 149.09 km², had 5,477 inhabitants, giving a population density of 36.7 inhabitants per km².- History :...
required fortifying: the ruins of the old castle, which gave the place its name and a title to a long line of counts who had the right of coining their own money, still exist. This castle underwent many sieges and suffered at the hands of Marshal de Châtillon (1636).
Near Rochefort are the famous red marble quarries of St Remy, and the old Trappist abbey
Rochefort Abbey
The Trappist Abbey of Rochefort or Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance, is located in Rochefort in the province of Namur . The abbey is famous for its spiritual life and its brewery, which is one of few Trappist beer breweries in the world...
of that name is now a Trappist seminary famous for brewing dark and sweet beers, especially the extremely popular Rochefort 10, whose deep dark-brown color and rich, fruity palate inspire a cult following.
Caves
Rochefort is well known for its caves. The "grotto" of Rochefort, within the town contains six chambers, the largest and highest of which was called the Sabbat (Encyclopædia Britannica 1911). It was swept clear of its prehistoric remains before electric lighting was installed. The cave has recently been given the more Christian name of "Lorette" after a Madonna of Loreto chapel nearby. No legendary Loreto or Madonna connections have yet developed. The more famous local cavesCaves of Han-sur-Lesse
The Caves of Han-sur-Lesse are a major Belgian tourist attraction located on the outskirts of the village of Han-sur-Lesse....
are at Han-sur-Lesse
Han-sur-Lesse
Han-sur-Lesse is a village in the municipality of Rochefort, Namur Province, Belgium. It is famous for the exceptional caves carved under a nearby hill by the river Lesse, which tourists reach via a preserved remnant of the country's vicinal tramway system....
, one of Rochefort's constituent towns, where the river Lesse disappears at what is called the gap or hole of Belvaux and passes by subterranean passages under the hill called Boeme or Boine. The endeavour to trace the course of the river led to the discovery of the grottoes, which consist of fifteen separate connected "halls" that emerge in a bay of the river from a dark and extensive cavern forming a sort of side creek or bay. Except in flood-time, when the exit has to be used, the entrance is near the point where the river disappears at what is called the gap or hole of Belvaux, and the exit is made by boat from the cavern last described, which leads out to the open river. A beautiful effect for tourists in boats is afforded by emerging from the complete darkness of this cavern into the light. The finest stalactites are in the three halls called the Mysterieuses, the Vigneron and the Draperies where is " the tomb", which looks as if chiselled out of white marble. The central hall called the Salle d'Armes ("the Armory") is immense, and one of the river channels flows through it.