Fourneau Saint-Michel

In the Ardennes , an open-air museum meticulously recreates rural Walloon life from over a century ago. Spread across 40 hectares , eight Walloon hamlets have been reconstructed with buildings dating from the 19th and 20th centuries . There you will discover farms, workshops, a school, a grocery store, and a chapel , all furnished with period objects and tools.

During your visit, observe artisans at work , discover rural cuisine , and learn about how communities once lived . The museum highlights the traditions and customs of the past, from everyday tasks to major events. A fascinating immersion into local history !

The Fourneau Saint-Michel Provincial Estate offers a family outing to discover the traditions and trades of yesteryear. During their visit to the Museum of Rural Life , young and old alike can explore old houses, artisans' workshops, and buildings that bear witness to the daily lives of Ardennes inhabitants in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Educational activities and craft demonstrations are also organized at certain times of the year. Children can thus become familiar with traditional skills and discover rural heritage in a hands-on way. A playground and picnic areas allow visitors to extend this family outing near Saint-Hubert.

The estate also houses the Iron and Ancient Metallurgy Museum , dedicated to the history of iron production in the region. Its main artifact is a charcoal blast furnace dating from the late 18th century, considered the only one preserved on its original site in Belgium.

Through an interactive museum tour, visitors discover the different stages of pig iron production, the tools used, and the working conditions of the laborers. Audiovisual displays provide a better understanding of how the blast furnace operated and the importance of this industrial activity in the history of the Ardennes.