La Vanne – The Sluice
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Under the right arch of the Pont de France, you can spot “La Vanne” (the sluice) and, further along, the fishermen’s clubhouse at Les Bains.
At La Vanne, the Semois splits into two channels, divided by a dike. This fork once had economic importance.
Timber Industry:
With its vast forests, the region depended heavily on wood. Timber was transported via river in a practice called flottage du bois. The floating logs were guided by “miquelets,” or river drivers, to Bouillon, where they were pulled from the water at La Vanne. A sawmill once stood here.
The diverted channel had calmer water, ideal for halting logs. This channel also powered the ban mill (castle mill) near the old Porte de France.
Swimming and Recreation:
The site later became known as Les Bains, a river swimming area. Around 1904, wooden cabins were built. In 1923, a large stone bathhouse followed (demolished in the 1970s). A smaller bathhouse replaced it. Today, Les Bains is a public swimming zone and home to the local fishing club.
