Tournavaux is a commune in the Ardennes department, in the Grand Est region, 22 km northeast of Charleville-Mézières.
Its territory of 1.5 km² is located in the heart of the Ardennes massif, which designates both a natural region of low and medium mountains and the imposing forest which covers it, extending over the eponymous department in France, part of Wallonia in Belgium and northern Luxembourg.
The locality is crossed by the course of the Semoy (spelled "Semois" in Belgium), a few kilometers from its confluence with the Meuse at Monthermé, to the west.
It was only recognized as an independent municipality in 1872.
Covered mainly by forests (66% of its surface area) but also by agricultural land and meadows, Tournavaux (230 inhabitants) benefits from a preserved environment, dominated by wooded hillsides, the Semoy valley forming a plain with bucolic charm here. This makes it a tourist village (a campsite and a number of lodges are located there) which delights lovers of hiking, fishing and even climbing.
In terms of "built" heritage, although the town does not have a church (in this case we speak of a "village without a bell tower"), there are nevertheless several sites of interest.
It is therefore appropriate to mention the old school with a bell tower which now houses the town hall (19th century). The traditional houses made of schist and cut stone also have a character typical of this part of the Ardennes, without forgetting for the most part their "beuquette": a small circular opening placed above the sink, allowing you to observe the outside... without being seen yourself.
In another register, some of the "Totems of Semoy" have been installed in the commune: these are monumental sculpted works, in wood and metal, by the contemporary artist Jean Morette and the landscaper Marc Soucat which thus evoke the metallurgical tradition of the Semoy valley (as in the neighboring Meuse valley), although the locality itself does not have any artisanal or industrial unit.
As for leisure activities, a sport fishing course is accessible. 4 km long of banks between the bridges of Haulmé (to the south) and Tournavaux, it is reserved for "no kill" fly fishing (the trout, in particular, are returned to the water). Information on +33 3 24 54 46 73.
Other discipline: climbing. The site of Roche aux Corpias (a word meaning “crows”) is particularly suitable for this. It is a pudding-shaped cliff (made up of plates and pebbles of schist and quartzite). The place dominates the Phade parade, to the northwest of the small town. According to legend, a block broke away and buried the daughter of the lord of Thilay and her suitor. Nowadays, the spot is appreciated by connoisseurs… Contact the Charleville-Mézières Alpine Club on +33 3 24 54 57 65.
Finally, it’s time for hikes. For walkers, a loop called the Plaine de the Meuse… The opportunity to think of the poet Arthur Rimbaud who liked to frequent the place and referred to the Semoy in his poems as the “River of Cassis”.
This walk can be done in all seasons: in autumn or even winter, with the mist, the colors blend into a particular atmosphere...
Larger loops are obviously available to reach upstream of the Semoy the communes of Haulmé or Thilay, with leisure centers, or downstream Monthermé and the Meuse valley. There, mountain bikers find the route of the greenway along the river which connects the plateau where the Meuse has its source in Lorraine, then crosses Belgium and the Netherlands where it flows into the North Sea. This greenway is one of the sections of Euro Vélo 19, 1050 km between Langres and Rotterdam.
Routes are dedicated to the biodiversity of the Ardennes forest and several interconnected routes constitute the Grande Traversée des Ardennes (i.e. a set of 350 km of trails) covering the territory of the Ardennes Regional Natural Park.
Maps and information for hikers from the intercommunal tourist office on +33 3 24 54 46 73 or from the PNR house (which also schedules workshops, exhibitions, conferences, etc.) on +33 3 24 42 90 57.
