Famenne

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Famenne is a natural region in Wallonia, southern Belgium. It lies next to the Fagne to the west of the Meuse river. Together, Famenne and Fagne form the Fagne-Famenne natural region because they look and feel similar. The idea that the name Famenne comes from an old tribe called Paemani is no longer believed. In medieval times, Famenne was written as Falmenna in Latin. Famenne is mainly in the Namur and Luxembourg provinces, with a small part in Liège. It sits at the western edge of the Ardennes and is bordered by the Meuse to the west. The Fagne lies across the Meuse on the western side. North of Famenne is the Condroz region. A limestone belt called the Calestienne runs through Famenne, giving calcium-rich soil and many special plants. The Lesse and Lomme rivers flow through it and have created big cave systems, such as Han-sur-Lesse, Hotton, and the Lorette cave in Rochefort. The main town is Marche-en-Famenne. Other towns include Beauraing, Rochefort, Hotton, and Durbuy. Most people work in farming and forestry, and tourism is also important.