Rochefort, Belgium
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Rochefort is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur close to the Ardennes. On January 1st, 2004 Rochefort had a total population of 11,920 (5,900 males and 6,020 females). The total area is 165.27 km² which gives a population density of 72.12 inhabitants per km². It was a resort in the 19th century.
Its ancient position at the crossroads where the route to Saint-Hubert crossed that from Liège to Bouillon required fortifying: the ruins of the old castle, which gave the place its name and a title to a long line of counts who had the right of coining their own money, still exist. This castle underwent many sieges and suffered at the hands of Marshal de Chatillon (1636).
Near Rochefort are the famous red marble quarries of St Remy, and the old Cistercian abbey of that name is now a Trappist seminary famous for brewing dark and sweet beers, especially the extremely popular Rochefort 10, whose deep reddish-brown color and fruity palate inspire a cult following.
Rochefort is well-known for its caves. The "grotto" of Rochefort, within the town contains six chambers, the largest and highest of which was called the Sabbat (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911). It was swept clear of its prehistoric remains before electric lighting was installed. The cave has recently been given the more Christian name of "Lorette" after a Madonna of Loreto chapel nearby. No legendary Loreto or Madonna connections have yet developed. The more famous local caves (http://www.grotte-de-han.be) are at Han-sur-Lesse, one of Rochefort's constituent towns, where the river Lesse disappears at what is called the gap or hole of Belvaux and passes by subterranean passages under the hill called Boeme or Boine. The endeavour to trace the course of the river led to the discovery of the grottoes, which consist of fifteen separate connected "halls" that emerge in a bay of the river from a dark and extensive cavern forming a sort of side creek or bay. Except in flood-time, when the exit has to be used, the entrance is near the point where the river disappears at what is called the gap or hole of Belvaux, and the exit is made by boat from the cavern last described, which leads out to the open river. A beautiful effect for tourists in boats is afforded by emerging from the complete darkness of this cavern into the light. The finest stalactites are in the three halls called the Mysterieuses, the Vigneron and the Draperies where is " the tomb," which looks as if chiselled out of white marble. The central hall called the Salle d'Armes ("the Armory") is immense, and one of the river channels flows through it.