Source ferrugineuse de Laifour, la source rouge de la Minérale

Laifour

Opposite the village of Laifour, in the Ardennes, a small spring runs over a rock and colours it rust. It is in the forêt communale de Revin, at the locality ‘la Minérale’, near a small cave. Its water is rich in iron, hence its red-orange colour. Local people preferred a darker explanation. According to the tradition reported by the ‘route des légendes’ of the Ardennes, the tint comes from the blood of a murdered girl, mixed with the iron of her murderer's sword. This route also tells, for the gué de Roger la Honte, between Deville and Monthermé, the story of a girl pursued by the lord Roger, who is said to have killed herself; her red spring would be very close, and the stones of his château, fallen into the Meuse, formed the ford. It is not known whether the two tales are one. An old postcard, kept on Commons, already shows the ‘fontaine ferrugineuse’ of Laifour, proof of long-standing visits, without a precise date. Only one text reports the legend: it should be taken with caution.

Getting there: Free. Hike of about 4.7 km (climb of about 187 m, about 1 h 50) from the road from Deville to Laifour, by the railway bridge, in the forêt communale de Revin, at the locality ‘la Minérale’. Coordinates: Commons category ‘Source ferrugineuse de Laifour’; position not confirmed on the ground. It is about 315 m from the Dames de Meuse.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound