The eco village project at Saint Roch was the answer to two simple questions: how can we best prepare for the world of tomorrow? And what kind of world do we want to build for ourselves, our children and the communities around us? In 2017, I heard that the Saint Roch estate, with its 40 hectares of forests and meadows, was up for sale. My grandparents live ten minutes from Couvin, so I used to drive past the estate regularly. Although it had been derelict for some 50 years, it nevertheless had enormous potential and my brothers and I jumped at the chance. Since then, the site has been revived, little by little with the help of a group, thanks to a host of sustainable projects. The multi-faceted estate is first and foremost a human experience, a laboratory for living together in harmony with nature.
The remains of its former industrial activity now lie at the centre of a 40-hectare estate. It is a complex of buildings set around a vast courtyard, reminiscent of a village hamlet, built of lime rendered limestone rubble in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Château Saint-Roch, dating back to 1739, is an imposing two-storey classical building. There is an old goods lift opposite. Behind the buildings, a vast retention pond is another reminder of its past industrial function. Here you can see a remarkable dam-bridge dating back to the first half of the 19th century, which once regulated the level of the Eau Noire. The lift shaft ruins (access to the furnace) are unique in Europe. To the west of the industrial buildings there is the former Saint-Roch farm, dating back to the first half of the 18th century. There is water everywhere. The estate is criss-crossed by almost two kilometres of water: upstream, in the large pond used as a reservoir for the mills, and in the various runs alongside the buildings.
The abundance of iron ore, forests and watercourses in the Couvin region made it possible to set up metallurgical activities very early on. In 1737, the Desandruin family were a vital part of the growth of the Saint-Roch factories, which were particularly prosperous between 1765 and 1785. In 1795, the site became a cannon foundry. The site then housed a blast furnace between 1826 and 1833. In 1837, the site was sold and mining stopped for good. The estate became the property of a family from Champagne who also managed the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris. After the First World War, the site became the "Grand Hôtel Saint Roch", benefiting from the region's healthy economy. It was the centre of the stove industry, with factories such as Arthur Martin, Efel and Somy, and later Donnay rackets, which was opposite the estate, and which sponsored players such as Borg and Agassi at the time and who came to stay here. In the mid-1970s, the oil crisis led to the closure of a number of factories, including the hotel. The estate was subject to inheritance disputes and lay abandoned for around 30 years before we acquired it.
The eco village was founded by people who want to embody the change they want to see in the world. Four families live here in grouped accommodation. A multitude of other people gravitate around the estate and keep the heart of the transition beating. With the aim of becoming self-sufficient in terms of food, fruit and vegetables are grown on site in a vast orchard grazed by sheep, and market gardening is carried out. 300 fruit trees have been planted, creating a garden forest. The estate's lush natural surroundings are home to many species of plants and animals. The "Les Herbes hautes" democratic school and its alternative education project has been welcoming children aged 4 to 12 since 2012. The estate organises numerous activities, training courses and events, as well as the "Crescendo” transition initiatives festival in the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse region.
We recommend that our guests discover the Fondry des Chiens, a geological phenomenon not to be missed in Nismes. There is also the Aquascope at Virelles, a magnificent, highly educational eco village set up by the leading nature association Natagora. When it comes to gastronomy, we love "Nulle-part-Ailleurs", just a stone's throw from the estate or "Absolu" in old Couvin.
The estate has three gîtes. Capucins (sleeps 26) has a large fully-equipped kitchen, a lounge/games room and nine bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. The gîte has access to the wellness area, the meeting room and the theatre. Jardinière (sleeps 14) is connected to the Capucins gîte on each floor and can be combined with it or be completely independent. It has a lounge, kitchen and seven double bedrooms, four of which have single beds that can be combined to form a double bed. La Bulle sur l'eau is an unusual accommodation option for two people, on a platform on stilts in the middle of a large pond. Nearby, a small additional flat for four people is occasionally available on request.
ref 867267
Every year, the estate organises the "Crescendo" festival, focusing on the ecological transition, with the aim of encouraging encounters between the various local players in the Entre Sambre et Meuse Sud region in terms of agricultural and craft production, social and civic associations, environmental protection, etc. The aim is to help consolidate existing local networks and raise public awareness about the various players involved, to promote the development of local trade, local production and community initiatives. It also aims to raise awareness of the issue of transition through lectures and screenings.
Located in the heart of the eco village, a rich and lively area that encourages independent learning, "Les Herbes hautes" democratic school is an alternative education project for children aged 4 to 12. It is a space that is interconnected with its direct environment: with the activities that are gradually taking place there (market gardening, bakery, crafts, livestock farming, etc.), with the nature in the estate and its biodiversity. The curriculum is based on independent learning.
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