Marche-en-Famenne

Marche-en-Famenne
Municipality
Location of Marche-en-Famenne
Country	Belgium
Community	French Community
Region	Wallonia
Province	Luxembourg
Arrondissement	Marche-en-Famenne
Government
• Mayor	André Bouchat (cdH)
• Governing party/ies	cdH, MR
Area
• Total	122.07 km2 (47.13 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)
• Total	17,455
• Density	140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Postal codes	6900
NIS code	83034
Area codes	084
Website	www.marche.be

Marche-en-Famenne is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. It is the capital of the Famenne region, sandwiched between the Condroz, former land of the Condrusi, to the north and the Ardennes to the south.

The Marche-en-Famenne municipality includes the old communes of Aye, Grimbiémont, Hargimont, Hollogne, Humain, Lignières, Marloie, On, Roy, Verdenne, and Waha.

History

Middle Ages

In the early Middle Ages, Marche was just a little hamlet on the Marchette brook, one of the dependencies of the nearby Abbey of Stavelot. In the 12th century, this territory was made part of the County of La Roche. It was ideally located, on the main road between Namur and Luxembourg, and quickly evolved into a town, which obtained its charter in the 13th century. At the end of the century, in true medieval fashion, it acquired a complete system of defensive walls, with two gates, a series of watchtowers, and a keep. The market place and religious organizations, such as the Carmes convent founded in 1473, could thrive inside the closed city.

After 1500

When in 1555 Philip II of Spain, son of Charles V, inherited his father’s empire, the freedoms of Spain’s Seventeen Provinces to the north were reduced considerably, giving rise to the Eighty Years' War.

The law courts

In the aftermath of the Pacification of Ghent, Don John of Austria, Philip II’s half brother, granted the city the “Perpetual Edict of Marche” in 1577. The edict allowed for the departure of the Spanish troops and recognized most of the city’s freedoms, with the notable exception of religion. The war started again and Don John died a year later near Namur.

The castle and defensive walls were dismantled at the end of the 17th century on the orders of Louis XIV. A century later, the French Revolutionary troops entered the city and closed the convent. Today, with its schools, light industries, military complex, and tourist attractions, Marche is a vibrant regional centre.

The St Remacle church

Sights

• The city centre includes a few interesting buildings, such as the St Remacle church and the old Carmes convent.
• The city is the home of several museums, including a lace museum, which is housed in one of the last remnants of the city’s medieval walls and commemorates the hundreds of lace workers that lived in the Marche area in the 18th century.
• The Famenne museum gives a good overview of the region’s art and history.

Festivities

• The Grosse Biesse (Great Beast) carnival takes place every year in February. It features the beast, as well as the city’s mascot Gugusse, traditional giants, and several other groups of joyful characters.
• A folkloric group called La Plovinette (Fine Drizzle) specializes in traditional Walloon dancing.

External links

• Official city web site (in French)
• Official site of the tourism office (in French)
• Alternative site (in French)
• The Grosse Biesse carnival (in French)