UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne: Geotrail of Tellin

The chateau is your first geosite on this Famenne-Ardenne Geopark trail. As it stands today, the privately owned chateau is a rectangular construction, parts of which date from the 8th century. Standing on the bank of the Lesse, it is a solid building made from limestone fieldstone extracted from the nearby quarry. The main building and the gate tower in the listed façade date from the end of the 11th century. The chateau was built by the Merode family but in 1668 it passed into the hands of the Hoffschmidt family, made famous by the hermit philosopher Edmond d’Hoffschmidt (1777-1861). The reclusive philanthropist left an indelible mark on the village of Resteigne and its history. You will find references to his charitable works on his tombstone in the cemetery of Resteigne and in the ruins of his hermitage that you will come to further along the trail.

The quarry is now disused, but continues to attract regular visits from geology students at universities across Belgium, in part for the striking demonstration of stratigraphy it offers. The limestone found here dates from the height of the Eifelian and Givetian stages, from the Devonian period. This means it was formed in the primary era, some 90 million years ago. At that time, Resteigne lay beneath the shallow Devonian seas. It therefore comes as no surprise to find various marine fossils (corals, brachiopods, molluscs, crinoids and stromatopores) in the limestone of the quarry. The limestone extracted in Resteigne was highly reputed as “good building stone”, “dressing stone”, or for use as crushed stone. The quarry now provides a haven for a distinctive ecosystem, with a thriving population of extraordinary plant and animal life. Perhaps one of the most remarkable species found here is Oedipoda careulescens (the bluewinged grasshopper).

On the banks of the Lesse, to your left, you will find the Caracolis (snail) sculptures created by Stéphane Renard. Les Caracolis, the little snails, is the nickname still given, even now, to the inhabitants of Belvaux in reference to the activity of snail-faming that was one of the region’s leading economic activities in the 19th century.

This part of the trail follows a shale depression (the Belvaux syncline) and on your left, to the south, the land rises to the limestone massif of Bois de Niau. The relief here is thus directly dictated by the nature of the subsoil. The shales found at Belvaux and throughout the Famenne are very soft and friable (subject to the action of frost, roots and groundwater) and lie in a depression. After 1.5 km you will find on your left a dirt path across the fields. The entrance to this path is signposted “Ruines de l’Ermitage”. At the far side of the field, turn right uphill to the Bois de Niau (keep following the signs for “Ruines de l’Ermitage”).

The hermitage was occupied by a certain Edmond d’Hoffschmidt, known as the Hermit of Resteigne. Born in 1777, he served as an officer under Napoleon and over the course of his lifetime gave rise to many legends relating to the village of Resteigne. It was after taking part in the Pomeranian campaign that he returned to his ancestral home. The story goes that, during this campaign, he met and fell in love with Christiane von Keffenbrinck. Unfortunately, her father opposed their marriage. This painful memory was said to be one of the reasons that led Edmond to become a recluse for almost 15 years. He immersed himself in literature, ranging from philosophy to the encyclopaedia. He was well versed in the classics, reading Latin but also the works of French authors such as Boileau, La Fontaine, Voltaire or Rousseau. He also appreciated the modern poets of the day such as Lamartine and Byron. On the death of his fatherin 1830, he inherited the Chateau of Resteigne. This prompted him to emerge from his hermitage, although he never abandoned it entirely, to return to the village and manage his estate. In later years, he became a municipal councillor (January 1846) and finally Bourgmestre, or mayor, from August 1847 until his death. During his term of office, he was instrumental in significantly developing the village’s activities.There are many accounts of both his kindness and his originality. Apparently, he delighted in playing tricks on his fellow citizens, spreading surprises and laughter.

The limestone plateau on which you are standing was once covered by beechwoods very similar to those you encountered on your way uphill. Deforestation, whether for agricultural or industrial purposes, brought about a significant transformation in our sylvan landscape. Intensive deforestation accompanied by years of cultivation and the creation of pastures prevented the forests from reclaiming their former territory. These wide pasture lands were ideal for grazing sheep and goats. The flocks were watched over by herders who would regularly burn off the tough, dried-up grass in winter to encourage new growth of tender young shoots for their flocks to graze on during the following summer. Chalk grassland is thus a semi-natural environment in which native plants have thrived but which could not be maintained without human intervention. Good to know : Chalk grassland is very popular with botanists, who enjoy studying the wealth of flora and fauna it has to offer. Its limestone soil is fairly shallow, stony and reaches very high temperatures in summer. These are ideal conditions for calcicolous (chalk-loving) and thermophilic (heat-loving) plants, which are particularly well suited to these harsh conditions (small, fine leaves, sometimes hairy, waxy or succulent). The typical kind of plant you are likely to encounter here is the juniper.

The mill dates from the 7th century and was listed as an historic monument in 1994. The entrance consists of a magnificent lintelled door bearing the date of 1792, and decorated with a wrought iron decoration in the style of Louis XIV. The waterwheel can still be seen on the eastern gable end. The mill outbuildings were converted into housing during the 19th century.

Le Moulin de Resteigne is a partner of the Geopark Famenne-Ardenne. Our partners are labelled "Geopark Famenne-Ardenne", a territory itself recognised by UNESCO. What is it you do? "This fine stone building dates from 1688. Le Moulin de Resteigne is a family B&B (sleeping 4) rated 3 épis, on the banks of the River Lesse in an outstanding natural setting. The interior is welcoming and authentic (tapestries, wood-burning stove, etc.). Breakfast is included, but lunch and evening meals are not provided (except by arrangement). The garden and vegetable plot are laid out alongside the mill-race that powers the mill wheel, still in working order. The B&B is also listed in the 'Maisons d’hôte de caractère /Charming Bed & Breakfasts' guide." What prompted you to seek "Famenne-Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark Partner" status? "We are right in the heart of the Calestienne and we put our faith in the Geopark project from the outset. We have been introducing our guests to the Calestienne for over 10 years now, and are keen to add to and broaden our knowledge." What is your approach to sustainable development and environment friendly practices? "The owners have repaired the mill wheel, which is now back in use and generating the equivalent of the power needed to cover the B&B's total electricity consumption. All the light bulbs have been replaced by LED versions. The owners are keenly aware of and attentive to waste sorting. They also provide a recharging point for guests' electric cars. Breakfasts include local products and home-made jam." Geraldine de Sauvage, manager Contact details: rue du Moulin, 143A 6927 Resteigne 084 38 85 57 info@moulinderesteigne.be moulinderesteigne.be

Lesse Capade is a partner of the Geopark Famenne-Ardenne. Our partners are labelled "Geopark Famenne-Ardenne", a territory itself recognised by UNESCO. What is it you do? "We run a restaurant that prides itself on working with fresh and seasonal produce. Here in the small village of Resteigne, diners are treated to an uninterrupted view of the cliffs of the former Resteigne Quarry, in an idyllic setting on the banks of the Lesse. Our emphasis is very much on the home-made, and our menu offers a range of outstanding delicatessen products, game, vegetables and much, much more." What prompted you to seek "Famenne-Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark Partner" status? "The restaurant is ideally situated on the banks of the River Lesse, right next to the chateau and looking out over the former quarry with its wealth of fossils. In the kitchen, we rely on fresh, seasonal produce from local producers. All our game, for example, is fresh and sourced exclusively in Belgium." What is your approach to sustainable development and environment friendly practices? "We have changed all our lighting, indoors and out, to minimise our electricity consumption. We have installed an energy-efficient gas boiler, and naturally we sort all our waste, which we seek to keep to a minimum. We go out of our way to work with local producers and through short supply chains, which is one reason, but by no means the only one, why we choose to work with seasonal produce only." Olivier Michel - Manager Contact details: rue de la Carrière, 155 6927 Resteigne 084 34 40 07 info@lessecapade.be lessecapade.be