Slate history and the Meuse landscape give a stay in Fumay two distinctive focal points. If you’re looking for accommodation, you can start by considering which aspects of the town you’d like to shape your days: traces of mining, historic buildings, outdoor activities, or views of the river bend.

Slate mining: history and traces in the town

Slate mining in Fumay finally ceased in 1971. At its peak, the Sainte-Anne slate quarry produced up to 45 million slate tiles a year. This scale gives a clear sense of how important mining was to the town’s history. The Sentier de l'Ardoise brings the subject outdoors: this themed walking trail leads to former slate quarries, slate waste heaps, and the entrances to old shafts.

At Place des Rochettes, you can see a slate quarry entrance, a slate bench, and slate steps and stairways. The entrance is currently closed off with a gate because the galleries are flooded. If you plan to visit this spot, check the closure again before your visit; the route to the visible traces of slate mining and the closed entrance are separate visitor information.

The Musée de l'Ardoise Michel Paradon offers another glimpse into Fumay’s past. The museum is housed in a former Carmelite monastery that has been fully restored. It depicts the daily lives of slate workers through scenes of domestic and mining life. A visit also explores the town’s history; there is a library upstairs. Since visitor arrangements and facilities should be checked before you travel, don’t plan a museum visit without first checking the latest visitor information. The free CATAREX walking guide brochure is available in French, Dutch, and English at Fumay town hall and at the museum. Check whether it is available there before your trip.

Buildings and town history

Individual buildings also tell the story of different periods in the town’s history. The former Château des Comtes-de-Bryas is partially listed as a historic monument. A decree dated 20 March 1972 protects its façades and roofs, with the exception of the chimney on the rear façade. The Saint-Georges church was rebuilt in the 19th century. Its onion-shaped bell tower is associated with the Ardennes and Eastern architectural influences.

The Chapelle Saint-Roch stands at the end of Place du Baty and dates from the 17th century. There is also a slate fresco in the town centre. These places complement the mining theme with other stops highlighting the town’s architectural and urban history. If you prefer to combine several short sightseeing stops during your stay, you can consider the buildings alongside the museum visit and traces of slate mining, rather than focusing your day on just one theme.

Meuse bend, viewpoints, and activities

The Roche de l'U viewpoint is a striking landmark for taking in the landscape: from here, the panorama stretches over the Meuse’s double bend, Fumay, and neighbouring Belgium. Fumay’s nautical stop is in the northern part of the large Meuse bend. The former slate-loading harbour is now a marina with café terraces along the quays. The viewpoint, nautical stop, and harbour each describe a different aspect of the river landscape; they are not interchangeable names for the same place.

If you’d like to include active pursuits in your travel plans, TerrAltitude offers a zip line more than 1.2 kilometres long over the Meuse. The facilities also include 120 high-ropes course challenges spread over five hectares. Check the latest visitor information and activity availability before making specific plans. For cyclists, the Trans-Ardennes greenway (EuroVelo 19) is worth noting: it passes through the centre of Fumay. These different ways of exploring are available without requiring you to follow a set itinerary.

Getting there and planning your stay

Fumay railway station is served by the TER line between Givet and Charleville-Mézières. If you plan to use this connection, check the timetable before your trip. The TER connection and the Trans-Ardennes greenway running through the town centre are two practical points of reference for planning your trip.

This lets you choose accommodation to suit your own plans, while checking the relevant visitor information and timetables separately for museum visits, train connections, and activities.

Discover more destinations: Le Fréty, Pouru-Saint-Remy, Signy-Le-Petit, Glaire, Haulmé, Boult-Aux-Bois, Sedan, Bourg-Fidèle

For the overview of the wider region: Ardennes.