Welcome to Bergeval

Les Colombages de Bergeval

Bergeval, a charming little village located in a conservation area, is home to a series of farmhouses typical of this region of the Ardennes, set in calm, leafy surroundings.

‘Les Colombages de Bergeval’ was built in 1796 using period techniques: thick walls of local stone and oak beams visible inside and out.

Today, this fully restored farmhouse offers you a warm welcome in a comfortable and relaxing setting.

It is also listed in the Monuments et Sites of the Walloon Region as a reference Ardennes house.

Whatever the age of our guests, in summer or winter, this region offers many possibilities that will give your holidays a taste of the ‘new’. Close to tourist centres such as Vielsalm, Coo, Stavelot, Francorchamps and Malmedy, you'll be at the centre of a whole range of activities.

Car racing on the Spa-Francorchamps Formula 1 circuit, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, horse riding, kayaking or mountain biking (for the more sporty), walking or hiking.

(for sports enthusiasts), walking or nature-watching (for lovers of the great outdoors)

or visiting museums, festivals or exhibitions (for the more erudite).

or exhibitions (for the more erudite).

There's something for everyone!

Trois-ponts - Bergeval

Our History

This house is an authentic farmhouse from the region and was built using all the materials and means typical of the period.

Bergeval (or Bergival to be precise) is a small listed village between Mont de Fosse and Saint-Jacques (a frequent stopover during the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela) in the Trois-Ponts commune. Its name is the Walloon translation of ‘Vallon des Bergers’. Thanks to the demarcation of a protected urban development zone, the architectural evolution of this village is controlled, guaranteeing its typical appearance and preserving its future.

‘Les Colombages de Bergeval’ was built in 1796 by two brothers, each of whom built his own dwelling on either side of a large dividing wall. This was a very common practice: it saved the effort of building a wall (often the longest and highest wall in the house) and had the advantage of providing the house with better insulation. Since 1999, the house has been listed in the ‘Monuments et Sites de la Région Wallonne’ as a benchmark Ardennes house.

You will notice that the house has what are known as ‘Colombages’ (from the Latin Colomna, column). These are made up of oak support beams, between which were built low walls of ‘torchis’, i.e. fatty earth mixed with chopped straw and glued to wooden crosspieces.

The front facade has been restored and the original beams have been retained to preserve its original appearance.

Wood is an essential material in the construction of this type of house. Not only is it used on the exterior façade, but it is also present inside to support the structure of the house. All the oak beams in this house are period. Some of them have, of course, had to be moved in order to adapt the house to today's comforts.

18 july 1960

Despite being over 200 years old, the wood is still very reliable and very hard. This is due to a special technique, widely used in the 18th century, which involved giving the wood a ‘thermal cure’. The tree trunks spent several weeks completely immersed in water and were then dried before being used in construction. This process made it possible to anticipate all the usual deformations in the wood, guaranteeing its stability once it was in place. It is also this process that gives the wood its dark colour.

Since its construction, this house has seen the passage of several reigns and several wars.

In 1994, the house was completely renovated (electricity, etc.) and a corridor was added (to avoid the discomfort of adjoining rooms), as well as a bedroom (the room with the bunk beds) and a bathroom. The household appliances complete

the wood-burning cooker has been replaced by an electric one, while the various machines and

appliances have found their place.

have found their place.