Famenne is a natural region in southern Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

. Together with The Fagne

Fagne (natural region)

The Fagne or la Fagne is a natural region in southern Belgium and northern France, sometimes grouped with Famenne as Fagne-Famenne. It should not be confused with the High Fens , which are further east and straddle the border of Belgium and Germany....

 or la Fagne, west of the river Meuse

Meuse

Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...

, it is part of the Fagne-Famenne

Fagne-Famenne

Fagne-Famenne is a natural region in southern Belgium and northern France. It consists of The Fagne or la Fagne west of the river Meuse, and Famenne to the east. The two regions are often grouped together because they are quite similar both geographically and naturally....

 natural region. The two regions are often grouped together because they are quite similar both geographically and naturally.

Etymology

Famenne comes from the word famine (the same in French), implying a relatively poor area.

Natural geography

Famenne is mostly in the provinces of Hainaut and Luxembourg

Luxembourg (Belgium)

Luxembourg is the southernmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. It borders on the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, France, and the Belgian provinces of Namur and Liège. Its capital is Arlon, in the south-east of the province.It has an area of 4,443 km², making it the largest Belgian province...

 in Wallonia in southern Belgium. Its northeastern tip extends into the province of Liège

Liège (province)

Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...

. It is bounded on the west by the river Meuse

Meuse

Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...

, west of which lies Fagne

Fagne (natural region)

The Fagne or la Fagne is a natural region in southern Belgium and northern France, sometimes grouped with Famenne as Fagne-Famenne. It should not be confused with the High Fens , which are further east and straddle the border of Belgium and Germany....

, similar to Famenne both geographically and naturally. To the north of both lies the Condroz

Condroz

The Condroz is a region in the center of Wallonia and in the south of Belgium. Its unofficial capital is Ciney....

 natural region. Famenne is at the western edge of the Ardennes

Ardennes

The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...

 mountain range.

Famenne is traversed by the Calestienne, a band of limestone resulting in calcium

Calcium

Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...

-rich soil and a corresponding concentration of calcicole

Calcicole

A calcicole or calciphyte is a plant that does not tolerate acidic soil. The word is derived from the Latin 'to dwell on chalk'. Under acidic conditions, aluminium becomes more soluble and phosphate-less. As a consequence, calcicoles grown on acidic soils often develop the symptoms of aluminium...

 plants. The rivers Lesse

Lesse

The Lesse is a river in the Ardennes, in the Walloon region of Belgium. It is a right tributary to the river Meuse.The source of the Lesse is near Libramont-Chevigny, in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. The Lesse flows roughly in north-western direction. Near Han-sur-Lesse the entire river goes...

 and Lomme

Lomme (river)

The Lomme, Lhomme or L'Homme is a river in the Ardennes, in the Walloon region of Belgium. It is a right tributary to the river Lesse, itself a right tributary of the river Meuse.- Geography:Its source is located on the plateau of Saint-Hubert...

 cross the Calestienne, forming substantial cave systems. The caves of Han-sur-Lesse

Caves of Han-sur-Lesse

The Caves of Han-sur-Lesse are a major Belgian tourist attraction located on the outskirts of the village of Han-sur-Lesse....

, the caves of Hotton

Caves of Hotton

The Caves of Hotton are speleothem caves near Hotton in Belgium, which were discovered in 1958 and are around 5 or 6 km long and 70 metres deep. A stream called Syphon runs at the bottom of the caves.-External links:*...

 and Rochefort

Rochefort, Belgium

Rochefort is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur close to the Ardennes. On January 1, 2006 Rochefort had a total population of 12,038. The total area is 165.27 km² which gives a population density of 73 inhabitants per km²...

's Lorette cave are the most notable examples.

Human geography

The most important city and unofficial capital of Famenne is Marche-en-Famenne

Marche-en-Famenne

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

. Other towns include Beauraing

Beauraing

Beauraing is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur. On January 1, 2006 Beauraing had a total population of 8,344. The total area is 174.55 km², giving a population density of 48 inhabitants per km²....

, Rochefort

Rochefort, Belgium

Rochefort is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur close to the Ardennes. On January 1, 2006 Rochefort had a total population of 12,038. The total area is 165.27 km² which gives a population density of 73 inhabitants per km²...

, Hotton

Hotton

Hotton is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg.thumb|left|The Faber watermill on the Ourthe river.Hotton is known for its speleothem caves, known as the Caves of Hotton. A small Commonwealth war cemetery is also situated just outside of Hotton....

 and Durbuy

Durbuy

Durbuy is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. On 1 January 2007 the municipality had 10,633 inhabitants. The total area is 156.61 km², giving a population density of 67.9 inhabitants per km²....

.

Economy

The agriculture

Agriculture

Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...

 and forestry

Forestry

Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...

sectors are the main sources of employment in the region, although tourism also plays an important role.