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History and geography

A history of Yvoir

In  1976, the municipality of Yvoir came into being as we know it today, as a result of the "new town" act which was the subject of much dispute. It results from the merger of the old municipalities of Yvoir (which had previously encompassed Evrehailles and Houx), Godinne (including Mont), Purnode, Dorinne, Durnal and Spontin.
 
The municipality has two facets: rural villages on the Condroz plateau scattered on either side of the picturesque Bocq valley, with its economic activity focusing on forges, quarries, breweries and water-related production, and the more well-appointed localities of Godinne and Yvoir, set in a slice of the sumptuous Meuse Valley, overlooked by the medieval ruins at Poilvache. 
 
Yvoir is a central point at the confluence of the rivers and naturally serves at administrative centre and seat of the municipality.

Yvoir has 12 listed sites, architectural heritage, natural reserves and enchanting landscapes, as well as local gourmet cuisine and a whole array of events all year round.
Flourishing industries between the 16th and 20th centuries included: metalworking, quarrying and water-related trades.

Geography

The municipality of YVOIR is in the administrative Arrondissement of DINANT, which itself is an enclave in the Province of NAMUR.
 
Surface area: 56.83sqkm. As of 2013, there were 8,900 inhabitants, known as "Yvoiriens".

Yvoir is located in the centre of Wallonia (the village of Spontin is the geographical centre).
Lying on the banks of the Meuse, on the right bank between the towns of NAMUR and DINANT, with the Bocq running through it from east to west, our municipality is surrounded by the those of Anhée, Dinant, Profondeville, Assesse and Ciney.
It comprises 9 villages: Dorinne, Durnal, Evrehailles (and the hamlet of Bauche), Godinne, Houx, Mont, Purnode, Spontin and Yvoir.

Yvoir is easy to get to

  • by train (SNCB stations in Yvoir and Godinne),
  • by boat (river halts on the Meuse),  
  • by road (E411 motorway - exit 19 for Spontin + Bus --> Information available from the TEC).

Yvoir is ideally situated at the centre of a province with a rich variety of tourist resources. Do not hesitate to add our municipality your list of places to visit in the Meuse valley and beyond.

Heritages & Riches

The municipality of YVOIR is bursting with local Heritage

  • Architectural heritage:
    • Farming:  farms
    • Civilian: Meuse villas, ironsmith's houses
    • Railway: stations, railway tracks: Bocq line 128 (bridges, tunnels, viaducts)
    • Industrial: forges, lime kilns, quarries, maka, water mills
    • Military: castles
    • Religious: churches, chapels
  • Funeral heritage: cemeteries, First and Second World War monuments  
  • Natural heritage:
    • Remarkable trees: the "picture oak", the lime tree at Aminthe forge, etc.
    • Caves: Trous d’Haquin, Trou de l’Eglise, Trou Bernard, Trou Wéron and more
    • Meuse & Bocq
    • Landscapes: the Plaine du Moulin, Poilvache viewpoint 
    • Natural reserves:   national reserve,  Champalle, Poilvache, Tricointe, the islands
  • Springs: Spontin
  • Local Heritage: Meuse & Bocq fountain, shrines, chapels
  • River Heritage: halt at Ile d'Yvoir, markers at the Houx locks, Annevoie–Rouillon markers
  • Parks and gardens
  • Listed sites: (12)