Ardennes Off The Beaten Path

Another small village - just up the hill from Poupehan. The short path rather challenging (20 or so minutes of steep climbing), but luckily there is a long way, too.

There are two cafés and if you ask nicely, they'll let you watch the footy on a French channel (which is, admit it, better than nothing). The town also has a Delhaize (supermarket) and a few local butchers w/ YUMMY local specialties like wild boar saussage (saucisse du marcasin).

Frahan is a tiny village just under (literally) Rochehaut.

Walking from Poupehan to Frahan and back is one of my fave paths in all seasons, and we always stop for a warm drink or a waffle in Frahan before we head back on the other side of the river.

The Giant's Tomb is a mount just off the village of Ucimont (and you could walk from Bouillon/Corbion/Poupehan to there and back).

At this point, the Semois is forming an oxbow creating what someone described 'a peninsula of a splendid brutality '. I find the view better in the winter when there is less folliage.

Touring LES ARDENNES you will go through numerous villages and hamlets and I hope that you too will stop a thousand time.......just because it is so very worthwhile.....

I prefer walking but a car is great to bridge some distances.....and then you will happen to see this : LES COLOMBAGES dating back from 1552 (Rahier).

A gem of a half-timbered house, well kept and a pleasure to feel, yes, let all of your senses do the work.......

See the place somewhat right of the centre of the picture? The oven, to bake the daily bread.......

Nowadays we can bake our bread by just filling a machine with all ingredients and well, well, in the morning the bread will be ready, fresher than fresh......what a change!!