Geotrail of Rochefort, by the Geopark Famenne-Ardenne

In the early 20th century, the railway and the extraction of limestone and sandstone propelled Jemelle into a thriving hub. Midway between Brussels and Luxembourg, the town attracted a large workforce and became a key maintenance center for rail equipment. But this strategic position had a dark side: on May 10, 1940, Jemelle became the very first railway station in the country to be bombed during World War II.

Built from 1880 to connect Jemelle to Rochefort and Dinant, former railway Line 150 played a major role in local history before transformation into today's RAVeL greenway. To keep the track level, engineers cut deep trenches up to ten meters high into the hills, exposing impressive rock walls of siltstone, sandstone, and Givetian limestone. Keep your eyes peeled! The damp ditches alongside the path provide a rich habitat for wildlife such as spotted salamanders and midwife toads.

Visible below the RAVeL, this cave impresses with its massive entrance arch, formed by the collapse of a rock wall. Once a main sinkhole for the Lhomme River—before being cut off by the railway embankment in 1880—it still channels underground floodwaters down to a deep sump. The Pré au Tonneau cave is a key link in the Calestienne's fascinating underground water system: the waters of the Lhomme and Wamme rivers vanish into these limestone passages, travelling underground for five days before reappearing 4.2 kilometres away at the Éprave resurgence.

Before you lies the impressive entrance of Trou Maulin (or Nou Maulin), gateway to a Geopark-listed underground network spanning over 1.6 km. On the left wall, spoon-shaped hollows known as "scallops" record the flow of ancient turbulent currents plunging underground. Around 1900, a levee was built to keep the river on the surface for local mills and hygiene. However, during floods, the Lhomme overwhelms the barrier and vanishes into the cave, resurfacing 3.8 km away at Éprave! Warning: Approaching the entrance during high water is extremely dangerous. Exploration of the inner galleries is restricted to trained speleologists.

Perched atop a steep, heritage-listed slope, the Notre-Dame de Lorette Chapel features a 17th-century brick and bluestone choir alongside an 18th-century limestone nave. Near the Calvary, an artificial cave carved into the rock evokes the Holy Sepulchre. From this scenic spot flanked by a linden tree avenue, enjoy sweeping views over the Lhomme Valley as far as the Lhoist plant in On-Jemelle. Below, the river flows through a wide floodplain: by absorbing floodwaters and recharging the underground karst network, this area plays a vital role in flood mitigation and biodiversity preservation.

A major geosite housing the Geopark Information Center, Lorette Cave brings together tourism, education, and cutting-edge research across 6 km of underground galleries. Once carved by a now-vanished subterranean river, the system is home to an extraordinary underground laboratory. Built directly along an active fault line, this facility studies earthquakes, rock mass dynamics, and groundwater movement. Its entry point lies at the Val d'Enfer—an impressive collapse sinkhole—where visitors can view the surroundings and an experimental display pavilion during opening hours.

Built in the Middle Ages by the Montaigus, this formidable stronghold gave the town its name: rocha fortis, the strong rock. Perched on a limestone promontory carved by the Lhomme River, it holds an exceptional strategic position overlooking the Famenne, bordered by steep cliffs and sinkholes. Frequently besieged, transformed into a palace, and later nationalised, the castle eventually served as a stone quarry for local townsfolk. Today, this landmark of history and archaeology is open to visitors.

Hop aboard the Rochefort City Tour for a fun and engaging way to explore the town's heritage! In just 50 minutes, this charming tourist vehicle takes you through major natural landmarks (Rond du Roi panorama, Lorette) and historical sites (Comtal Castle, Lorette Chapel, Malagne). Guided by an entertaining bilingual audio commentary, it offers a great overview for visitors of all ages.

La Gourmandise is a partner of the Famenne-Ardenne Geopark. Becoming a partner of the UNESCO Global Geopark Famenne-Ardenne means committing to quality and eco-responsibility while helping to promote, develop, and showcase the region and its local craftsmanship.  www.la-gourmandise.be 

Inaugurated in 1874, the Church of Our Lady of the Visitation is an imposing Neo-Romanesque building constructed from local limestone. Its stately façade, flanked by two soaring towers, features a magnificent central rose window and eight finely carved statues.

Built in the mid-1st century AD, the Gallo-Roman estate of Malagne is the only large-scale rural villa from this era within the Geopark. Perched on a hill linking the Calestienne and Famenne regions, it overlooks the Lhomme Valley. Today, as an active Archeopark, this site dedicated to experimental archaeology, education, and tourism vividly brings ancient Roman life and craftsmanship back to light.

This path leads to the southern edge of the Gerny Plateau, a folded geological structure (anticline) made of Givetian limestone. Covered by several metres of wind-blown silt known as loess, the plateau boasts exceptionally fertile soils. Combined with the natural drainage provided by the underlying limestone, which allows rainwater to easily seep through, these ideal ground conditions have made the area a prime agricultural land.

Across the Wamme River, this escarpment marks the historic site of the former On limestone quarry, active as early as 1850 to support the construction of the railway line. Taken over and modernized by the Lhoist Group in 1924, the site now houses processing facilities converting limestone into lime. The industrial kilns are fed by Frasnian limestone extracted from the nearby Boverie quarry on the Gerny Plateau. Annual extraction and lime production levels have recently been scaled back to extend the lifespan of the currently permitted quarry.