House with 'Semois' Sign
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On this house by the banks of the Semois, a faded advertisement remains, reading “Semois” on a yellow background. The full sign once said “Semois Florina,” referring to a locally renowned tobacco brand.
Florina tobacco was grown and produced by Albert Florin, who had a workshop and shop in the Grand Rue. The Florin family were notable tobacco producers in early 20th-century Bouillon, much like the Duruisseau family in Frahan-Rochehaut.
Between 1850 and 1930, Semois tobacco boomed, with over 10 million plants growing in the valley at its peak. The misty mornings created by the river gave the tobacco its unique flavor.
After 1930, foreign competition and the rise of tourism led to a sharp decline. By the 1950s, many tobacco fields had been replaced by campsites. Today, the industry is small but still active.
In 2021, a training course for new growers was organized to revive the tradition. Artisan producers like Vincent Manil in Corbion and Jean-Paul Couvert (from a long line of tobacco farmers) continue to preserve this regional heritage.
