The history of the Half-timbered houses

of Bergeval

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

Bergeval (more precisely Bergival) is a small village classified between Mont de Fosse and Saint-Jacques (a frequent stop during the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela) in the municipality of Trois-Ponts. Its name is the Walloon translation of "Vallon des Bergers". Thanks to the delineation of an urban protection zone, the architectural evolution of this village is controlled, which guarantees its typical appearance and preserves its future.
"Les Colombages de Bergeval" was built in 1796 by two brothers, each having built their home on either side of a large separating wall. This method of construction was very common: it saved the effort of building a wall.

Although it is over 200 years old, the wood remains 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 were indeed completely immersed in water for several weeks and then dried before being used in construction. This process allowed for anticipating all the usual deformations of the wood and thus guaranteed, once placed, its stability. It is also this process that gives the wood its dark color.

(often the longest and tallest wall of the house) and had the advantage of providing the dwelling with better insulation. Since 1999, the house has been classified as one of the "Monuments and Sites of the Walloon Region" as a reference Ardennes house.

You will notice that the house has what is called "Colombages" (from the Latin Colomna, column). These are made up of support beams in oak, between which low walls of "torchis" were erected, that is to say, clay mixed with chopped straw and applied to wooden crossbeams.

The front facade has been restored and the original beams remain to maintain its original appearance.

Wood is an essential material in the construction of this type of house. Not only is it used on the exterior facade, but it is also present inside to support the structure of the house. All the oak beams in this house are of the period. Some, of course, had to be moved in order to adapt this house to current comfort.

Since its construction, this house has seen several
eras, several reigns, and several wars.

In 1994, the house was completely renovated (electricity...) and a corridor was added (to avoid the discomfort of linear bedrooms), a bedroom (the room with the bunk beds) and a bathroom were added. The appliances complete
its adaptation to modern times: the wood stove has been replaced by an electric stove while the
various machines and other appliances have
found their place.