The Famenne-Ardennes UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARL

The Belvaux Chasm
The Renissart rocks
An exceptional flora
The Durbuy anticline
Honnay from above...
The Cave of Lorette

Here you’ll find breathtaking landscapes, caves, and exceptional karst sites that are truly unique on a European scale… But also charming villages, castles and other stone sentinels, mouth-watering local specialities (including the world-famous Trappist beer of Rochefort!), walking and mountain bike trails, and a network of “point-nodes” routes… In short, plenty to delight geology lovers, history buffs, foodies, and many more!

Wait, what on Earth is a Geopark ?

A UNESCO Global Geopark is a label awarded to a territory that highlights and celebrates geological heritage of international importance. It also supports the sustainable development of the region. Through this, UNESCO encourages local communities to reconnect with their natural and cultural heritage.

Belgium's very first UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK

The Geopark – shaped by the Calestienne – is built around the valleys of three rivers (the Lesse, the Lomme and the Ourthe), offering extraordinary geological potential that is showcased for both tourism and scientific study.

You’ll find:
• Exceptional caves and karst formations unique in Europe
• Sites of scientific interest that have been studied for many years
• Numerous local initiatives promoting natural heritage
• Rock formations made of carbonates, revealing clues about ancient climates and environments
• Landscapes whose shapes directly reflect the nature of the ground beneath
• Soils that support a wide range of biodiversity
• Architectural heritage rich in locally sourced materials that come straight from the surrounding environment

Discover our Geopark by roaming our Geotrails!

Download the 8 geo-walks that will take you on a journey through the UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne — exploring its geology, landscapes, and fascinating history:

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UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne : Geotrail of Rochefort

"Tracing the courseof the Lomme"
This geotrail starts from the centre of Rochefort and leads to Jemelle via the RAVeL 150 cycle path, along the valley of the Lomme. The valley here follows the limestone strip and is shaped by major karst phenomena. The return to Rochefort is along the left bank of the Lomme, climbing up to the edge of the Gerny plateau and including a suggested detour to visit the Gallo-Roman villa in Malagne.

12.2 km
3h 15m
Medium
10 Place Roi Albert Premier 5580 Rochefort
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
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UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne : Geotrail of Beauraing

Begin your walk around Beauraing by walking through the Parc du Castel with its castle perched on the heights of the Calestienne, looking down across the town and the Famenne depression. Once you have left behind the town centre, its narrow lane and the site of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, the rest of the trail continues along the limestone strip. This trail will take you to unusual geosites such as the Neuville travertine and the Martouzin take-off area. The final part of the trail follows a pretty GR footpath between the fields and the wall of the Parc de Castel.

14.1 km
4h
Medium
5570 Beauraing
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
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UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne : Geotrail of Marche-en-Famenne

"Art in Famenne":
This trail takes you on an extraordinary journey through the capital of the Famenne and its walkable landscapes, from the green retreat of the Fond des Vaulx valley to the town of Marche-en-Famenne and the village of Waha, best known for its church. The trail makes its way along country paths, small country roads and streets and lanes. It also makes a delightful cycling route. From a geographic point of view, it offers a striking illustration of a type of karst phenomenon characteristic of the Geopark: the swallow-hole/resurgence system.

9.7 km
2h 45m
Easy
1 Place de l'Etang 6900 Marche-en-Famenne
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
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UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne: Geotrail of Hotton

Hotton lies within the Famenne in the Ourthe valley, just downstream of where the river runs through the limestone layers of the Calestienne. This trail will take you from one side of the Calestienne to the other, on both sides of the Ourthe valley. In the river valleys (Ourthe and Agauche), erosion has revealed the limestone rock in spectacular fashion, perfectly illustrating the almost vertical inclination of the strata. Elsewhere, it is mainly disused quarries that provide a better understanding of the region’s geology and the role it has played in shaping the landscapes and the development of local socio-economic activity: ancient buildings, mineral resources, agricultural methods. Capping it all, the Caves of Hotton offer visitors a chance to see for themselves what lies underground. The shorter option for this trail covers 7.3km, increasing to 8.9km if you take the routes via the Agauche stream, the Calestienne Garden and the Isbelle resurgence.

7.5 km
2h 30m
Medium
6 Rue Haute 6990 Hotton
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
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UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne: Wellin Geotrail "On the borders of the Calestienne and the Ardennes"

"On the borders of the Calestienne and the Ardennes":
Welcome to this countryside walk around the town of Wellin, the starting point for your geotrail exploring the Famenne-Ardenne Geopark. Before getting started, let’s take a quick look at the history of Wellin, which stretches back a very long way. A series of archaeological excavations has shed some light on its early origins. The town takes its name from Wadalinus, a Frankish landowner. These different digs, which unearthed some richly furnished 6th century tombs, were instrumental in dating the origins of the town at least back to this period. They also provided proof of habitation, uncovering 80 post holes for wooden houses, indicating that Wellin was the centre of a vast Merovingian estate.

9.6 km
2h 30m
Easy
152 Les-Hayettes 6920 Wellin
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
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UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne : Geotrail of Durbuy

"The Durbuy meander cutoff ":
Durbuy owes its existence to its remarkable geological setting. The town first came into existence as a military stronghold, located on a tight loop of the River Ourthe, encircling a limestone outcrop. This strategic position combined two advantages: the outcrop provided a solid vantage point on which to build the fortress, and the meander offered a natural defence against attackers. A thousand years on, it is by no means easy to imagine how the landscape would have looked at the time of this human conquest. In addition to all the building that has taken place in the intervening centuries, the course of the River Ourthe itself has also shifted. This suggested trail gives you some idea of what that initial landscape would have looked like, including an unobstructed view of the Ourthe, the line of its long-vanished branch, and a chance to observe both the large and the small Durbuy anticline. The nameof Durbuy is thought to derive from the Celtic duro-bodion, “ the dwelling place near the fortress”. As an added bonus, the trail also takes you through the old town with its well-preserved ancient houses and cobbled streets.

2.5 km
50m
Very easy
2 Rue de la Haie Himbe 6940 Durbuy
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -
- UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne -