Every spring, a bridge appears near Laforêt. Around 80 metres of woven wood stretch from bank to bank, barely a hand's width above the water. This remarkable structure lies between Laforêt, one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia, and the opposite bank of the Semois, on the territory of Vresse-sur-Semois.
Purely local craftsmanship
The Pont de Claies is no ordinary bridge. It is a living tradition, rebuilt every year, plank by plank. Around 75 planks of woven wood (the "claies") rest on slender piers driven directly into the riverbed — a craft passed down year after year by local residents.
Crossing the bridge is an experience in itself. Just centimetres above the water, you discover the Semois from an angle you will find nowhere else… and you walk quite literally in the footsteps of the tobacco growers and farmers who once crossed the river here with their livestock to reach their fields on the other bank.
Good to know
An exact schedule is impossible to give, as the Pont de Claies is assembled and dismantled each year according to the water level of the Semois. Visit in spring or summer for the best chance of crossing with dry feet. Combine your visit with a walk along the bridge and the most beautiful meanders of the valley!
Explore the surroundings
