Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Wallonie

Abissage – 15th-century agricultural engineering

Wallonie

Abissage – 15th-century agricultural engineering

Highlight • Historical Site

Abissage – 15th-century agricultural engineering

Recommended by 22 hikers out of 23

Save

Location: Libin, Neufchâteau, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Abissage – 15th-century agricultural engineering

4.5

(23)

107

hikers

1. The Nutons Trail – Smuid Village loop from Smuid

10.3km

02:49

160m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

4.8

(9)

hikers

2. Saint-Roch Church – Mirwart Castle loop from Poix-Saint-Hubert

24.2km

06:52

530m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Expert

4.3

(6)

hikers

3. Clear Stream – Beautiful Forest Corner loop from Poix-Saint-Hubert

9.95km

02:44

170m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

Tips

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

November 19, 2023

At this location, a few metres behind the information board, you can see traces of a 15th century agricultural technique called Abissage. This technique was widely used in the past centuries. It is the precursor of irrigation technology. In reality, the idea was to enrich the infertile meadows of the valley slopes with silt and mineral salts deposited by dug canals or ditches that were diverted from the streams. These ditches were called "Biefs" in French, which became "Bys" in Walloon.
Abissage was a job for the winter or early spring. The landowners dug permanent canals for the water supply that were on average 30 cm to 1 metre wide and 30 to 60 cm deep. They extended over a length that varied from 10 metres to 1 kilometre, following the contour lines.
Abissage was abandoned at the beginning of the 20th century with the arrival of fertilisers.

On the information board you can read even more interesting information about this special medieval agricultural technique.

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 330 m

Weather

Today

Tuesday 11 November

10°C

8°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Libin, Neufchâteau, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Rocher de Marie Gobaille

Domaine Provincial de Mirwart

Mirwart Castle

Boardwalk Through the Peat Bog

Stream Near Smuid

Voormalige Tramlijn: 1886, Saint-Hubert – Libin

Picnic Area by the Lomme

The Lesse River

Forest Pond

Picnic Area by the River

Haut-Fourneau de Marsolle

Forest Panorama

Abissage – 15th-century agricultural engineering

1. The Nutons Trail – Smuid Village loop from Smuid

2. Saint-Roch Church – Mirwart Castle loop from Poix-Saint-Hubert

3. Clear Stream – Beautiful Forest Corner loop from Poix-Saint-Hubert

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️