Fumal

Fumal is shaped like a star and surrounded by various woods. The village is nestled in the valley; the rocky outcrops of shale and limestone mark out the Meuse Valley. Thus, it's appearance is different to the other villages in the municipality.

The village is split into two parts, one on each side of the Méhaigne.

Most of the housing is built on the sides of the valley, spreading out along the roads which run perpendicular to the lines of the land. The location of the houses perpendicular to the lines of the land and the absence of housing in the base of the valley means that it is not really possible to discern the true silhouette of the village.

The districts of "La Basse" and "Les Trous", which lie along the Méhaigne, are dense in housing including the old municipal school. The Hamlet of Hougnée, which stretches out towards Fallais, is the least populated area but is currently being developed.

Centre

The true centre of the villages is situated on the left bank of the Méhaigne towards the south. It is structured around two large farms - "Dîme/Des Dames" and "L'Escaille".

If you approach the village by the Route de Warnant, the group of buildings that constitute the castle emerge from quite thick vegetation to offer a clearer and exceptional view.

The village of Fumal is the most active of the villages in the municipality with regard to the organization of various festivals.

Fumal also has a football club.

There are two village halls - one is a public hall, the "Cercle Emile COLPLIN" and the other is private, "LI MOUSTI".

Recently, the old train station square at the centre of the village has been converted into a social space with a playground and a multi-purpose sports area.

A municipal childcare facility has opened in the buildings of the old nursery school in Place Limage.

Château de Fumal

Built like the church on a schistose spur, the castle is a beautiful whitish limestones structure.

Its ancient nucleus consists of a tower dating from the 16th century topped by a domed roof and equipped with new cladding during the first third of the 17th century.

The constructions that came to stand there date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

The date 1622 can be seen on the anchorings of the south facade.

A pretty park is situated at the north of the residence.

The old farmstead

The dwelling and its slate roofs date from the 16th century (1564).

It boasts a beautiful homogenous Gothico-Renaissance limestone with windows with double-curved lintels.

Eglise Saint-Martin (St. Martin's Church)

The Gothic limestone building dates from the 16th century and was extensively modified in 1884.

The stained glass window (19th century) of the north transept shows the coats of arms of the Fontbaré family who acquired Fumal in the 18th century.

After the revolution, many members of this family became mayors of the village.

A chapel was erected near to the entrance of the park in remembrance of the members of the family.

At the side of the cemetery, you can see a few sections of a shale wall, the remainder of an old fort (12th and 13th century).