Rochefort — The Water Register Secret

Your quest for the Register of Water begins at Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy Abbey, a site classified as Walloon heritage. Founded by Trappist monks in 1626, this abbey has been famous for its Rochefort beer production since the 17th century. The current buildings, erected between 1743 and 1769, house monastic archives that may contain the first mentions of the register. It is here, at the heart of local spirituality and ingenuity, that the first puzzles challenge you with the hydraulic history of Rochefort, a city where water has always been a precious and sometimes capricious resource.

From the abbey, your itinerary leads you to Place Albert 1er, the main landmark of Rochefort's historic city center. Named in honor of King Albert I, who reigned from 1909 to 1934, this square has been the scene of markets and public events for centuries. It is a vital crossroads where information circulated and decisions were made. Augmented reality clues reveal the places where merchants discussed the Lomme floods, and where Rochefort residents sought solutions to water supply problems, revealing the long tail of local history.

Continuing your investigation, you take Rue de Behogne, a historic alley typical of Condrozian architecture, located in the immediate vicinity of Place Albert 1er. This pedestrian heart of Rochefort, about 500 meters long, plunges you into the old quarter of the city. Here, the facades of traditional houses harbor well-kept secrets. An old washhouse, a testament to ancient water-related practices, becomes a key point of your investigation. The stone walls reveal hidden messages, bringing you closer to the Register of Water and the history of daily life in Rochefort.

The path then leads you to the Comtal Castle of Rochefort, a site classified as a monument on July 18, 1966, and a site on November 25, 1971. Built around 1155, it occupies a strategic position overlooking the city. Although it has been private property since 1987 and hosts a historical escape game since 2018, its ruins are accessible to the public. This castle, home of feudal lords, was a major player in the management of the territory and its resources, including water. The Pont de la Lhomme, crossing the river of the same name, is about 800m on foot from Place Albert 1er and testifies to the importance of the Lomme river, a tributary of the Lesse, in the historical road network connecting the castle and the city center.

Your journey concludes at Parc des Roches, a historic green space located along the Lomme river, about 1 km from Place Albert 1er, near the Comtal Castle. This public park integrates elements of the fluvial landscape, offering a serene setting for the conclusion of your quest. It is here that the last pieces of the puzzle fall into place, revealing the location of the Register of Water. By traversing these Walloon heritage sites, from the Trappist Abbey of 1626 to the classified Comtal Castle of 1966, you have not only solved a riddle but also discovered the history of Rochefort and its intimate relationship with the Lomme, an exploration of tourism in Wallonia.