"ROCHEFORT" Rochefort by balhannah

Rochefort is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur close to the Ardennes.

Located here, are the ruins of an old castle which gave the Rochefort its name and a title to a long line of counts who had the right of coining their own money.

Rochefort

Rochefort is well-known for its caves, including the "grotto" of Rochefort, situated in town, which contains six chambers, the largest and highest of which was called the Sabbat.
What a shame it was cleared 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.

The more famous local caves are at nearby Han-sur-Lesse, where the river Lesse disappears into the gap or hole of Belvaux, and passes by subterranean passages under the hill called Boeme or Boine.

The entrance is near the point where the river disappears at Belvaux hole.

Trying to find the River course led to the discovery of the grottoes, which consist of 15 separate connected "halls" that emerge into a bay of the river.

The finest stalactites are in the three halls called the Mysterieuses, the Vigneron and the Draperies, where " the tomb", which looks as if chiselled out of white marble is.

Tour over, the tourist Boat's come out of complete darkness of this cavern into the bright day- light and the open River.

Also nearby Rochefort, are the famous red marble quarries of St Remy.

Rochefort

The old Trappist abbey of that name is now a Trappist seminary,

FAMOUS........for brewing dark and sweet beers, especially the popular Rochefort 8, which is a deep reddish-brown color and has a fruity taste.

If you have finished this page, and would like to follow my journey through Belgium, please click on the Town name below

CELLES