Rochefort, Belgium

Rochefort
Rotchfoirt (Walloon)
Location of Rochefort in Namur province
Interactive map of Rochefort
Rochefort
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°10′N 05°13′E / 50.167°N 5.217°E / 50.167; 5.217
CountryBelgium
CommunityFrench Community
RegionWallonia
ProvinceNamur
ArrondissementDinant
Government
 • MayorCorinne Mullens (MR, CAP 2030 - IC)
 • Governing partyCAP 2030 - IC
Area
 • Total
166.34 km2 (64.22 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)
 • Total
12,554
 • Density75.472/km2 (195.47/sq mi)
Postal codes
5580
NIS code
91114
Area codes084
Websitewww.rochefort.be

Rochefort (French: [ʁɔʃfɔʁ] ; Walloon: Rotchfoirt) is a municipality and city of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium, close to the Ardennes. On 1 January 2006, Rochefort had a total population of 12,038. The total area is 165.27 km2 (63.81 sq mi) which gives a population density of 73 inhabitants per km2. It was a resort in the 19th century.

The municipality consists of the following districts: Ave-et-Auffe, Buissonville, Éprave, Han-sur-Lesse, Jemelle, Lavaux-Sainte-Anne, Lessive, Mont-Gauthier, Rochefort, Villers-sur-Lesse, and Wavreille.

Its ancient position at the crossroads where the route to Saint-Hubert crossed that from Liège to Bouillon required fortifying: the ruins of the old castle, which gave the place its name and a title to a long line of counts who had the right of coining their own money, still exist. This castle underwent many sieges and suffered at the hands of Marshal de Châtillon (1636).

Near Rochefort are the red marble quarries of St. Remy, and Rochefort Abbey, a Trappist monastery, which operates the Rochefort Brewery, known for brewing dark and sweet beers, especially the Rochefort 10, a deep dark-brown rich and fruity beer.

The town was the site of the Battle of Bure during the Second World War.