Fondry des Chiens

Step onto another planet as you visit this unique site in the Ardennes.

A playground for explorers, this exceptional geological site is so different from its surroundings that you’ll feel as though you walked through some sort of space portal. With rocks emerging from the earth up to 20m tall, admire the view both from within the depths of the site and from above; the interesting angles and contrasting colours make this a paradise for all you photographers.

The canyon was formed after thousands of years of rain erosion in a soil containing limestone. This has also meant some rare and delicate vegetation has thrived both within the gorge and the surrounding Viroin-Hermeton natural park, a classified nature reserve.

Hiking

Unsurprisingly there are numerous trails in the area to enjoy the lush nature, woodland and cute village of Nismes. The following start at the Viroinval tourist office, close to the church in the centre of Nismes, with varying lengths which are clearly signposted.

• The ‘Fondry des Chiens’ hike with red rectangle signage is a simple 4km loop leaving from the village to the Fondry des Chiens and back.
• The ‘La Roche aux Faucons’ with yellow rectangle signage will take you through 7.5km of forest, grazeland and orchids as well as up steep hills showing off panoramic views from the Roche aux Faucons and of course, the canyon.
• The red rectangle with white in the middle marks the beautiful ‘Les Abbanets’ trail; 9km of changing landscapes through the forest, along the river and old railway line.