The Ardennes, land of legends, is home to mysteries and ancient Ardennes customs. Today, let me tell you about it four legends, the legend of the Nutons, the legend of the three brigands, the legend of Madame de Cormont's rock and the legend of Mahwot. Let's go together to discover the legends mysterious things attached to our territory.
The legend of the Nutons of Fromelennes
Le nuton is described by the Ardennes in the form of elf or gnome having magical powers. They are recognized by their manual talent, their benevolence but also by their susceptibility. If a villager had the misfortune to make fun of them, their anger would be immediately triggered against them. The name nuton would come from the old walloon, from the term “the nut” which means night, because that would be when these creatures would come out most often.
The legend that is told today is…
Once upon a time, in a small nestled village in the heart of the Ardennes, a fascinating story that unfolds transmitted from generation to generation. This legend featured a brave widow and to be mysterious called nuton.
Our story begins with a recently widowed woman who found herself alone raising her three daughters. The loss of her husband had left her in a desperate situation, as she could no longer cultivate her land. Famine threatened her small family.
One day, while she was wandering near a caves, she met a Nuton. These creatures, half-men half-elves, were renowned for their wisdom and their longevity. This one, aged two centuries, was moved by the widow's distress. The Nuton offered him a deal: in exchange for room and board, he would take care of his fields. He then gave him a simple instruction: “Leave the tools in the field, and the work will be done.” As by magic, the widow's fields were plowed and sown. Night after night, the crops thrived. Soon, his harvests became the most abundant in the village, arousing the admiration and curiosity of all.
Unfortunately, greed eventually won out. A neighbor, seeing the widow's success, offered her money in exchange for the Nuton's services. The widow, tempted by the gain, accepted and placed her tools in the neighbor's field, thinking she was deceiving her benefactor.
It was a fatal error. Not only did the neighbor's field remain fallow, but the Nuton, disappointed by the treason, disappeared forever. The widow then found herself alone facing her destiny, having lost much more than she hoped to gain!
The Nutons' habitats were caves or grottoes nicknamed by the villagers the " Nutons holes".
Come explore the Cave of Nichet à Fromelennes, where is the Nutons room.


The legend of the three bandits of Givet
The legend of the three bandits of Given is a captivating tale that illustrates the richness of Ardennes folklore. This story features three evil giants who terrorized the Givet region for a long time.
These bandits, dressed in black, were characterized by their limitless audacity and their crueltyThey operated mainly at night, breaking into houses to loot. without mercy the inhabitants, whether rich or poor.
Faced with growing resistance from the villagers, the bandits adapted their strategy by posting in isolated places to attack their victims. Their audacity reached its climax when they robbed the priest of Givet Notre Dame et burglarized Saint Hilaire church.
The most striking element of this legend is the divine punishment which fell upon these criminals. While they were returning from stealing sheep, they were petrified when crossing the Meuse. Their silhouettes transformed into rocks remained visible for a long time on the banks of the river, serving as a warning to future generations.
Unfortunately, the physical traces of this legend have disappeared over time, victims of the progress and development of the banks of the MeuseHowever, the story continues to live in the collective memory, testifying to the importance of legends in preserving local cultural heritage.

The Legend of Madame de Cormont's Rock
In the 17th century, in the picturesque village of Haybes, a rich lord lived on top of a hill, in a magnificent castle which he had built with his own hands. This lord, Mr. de Cormont, owned the whole village, and his wife, Mrs. de Cormont, accompanied him in this life of opulence. The castle housed a strange turret, nicknamed “the prison”, because Mr. de Cormont played the role of gaoler and vigilante with his vassals. Yet, despite their immense wealth, Mr. and Mrs. de Cormont were not happy.
One morning, against all expectations, Mr. de Cormont, usually stern and authoritarian, invited his wife to do a horse ride. Happy, Madame de Cormont accepted, unaware that this stroll would be the beginning of a tragic destiny. As they passed through a carriage entrance, Mr. de Cormont made the animal jump under her. Madame de Cormont, taken by surprise, seriously injured her head and fell into a bloody fainting. When she woke up, her husband had already disappeared into the forest, and he was never seen again in Haybes.
Despite the accident, Madame de Cormont survived, cared for by devoted vassals. After a long convalescence, she continued her generosity, but on March 29, 1729, she died at the age of 75. Her tombstone, still visible in the old cemetery of Haybes, bears witness to his passage.
Before dying, Madame de Cormont bequeathed all her gold to the poor and its lands to Jeromists of Fumay, who paid homage to him by raising a Chapel in the forest, accessible by a path now called the Cormont trail.
The French Revolution brought the destruction of this chapel, and legend has it that in the midst of fire, a strange phenomenon occurred. Madame de Cormont's face was engraved on a rock, facing the flames, as if to protester against this act of vandalism. Even today, hikers can admire this female face engraved in the rock, during the hike of the Cormont Rock, an everlasting memory of the intriguing story of this generous woman, whose spirit continues to watch over the village of Haybes.
The legend of Mawhot
The last legend I will tell you is that of the “Mawhot” or “Mawhotte in Belgium, creature dreaded amphibian from the depths of the Meuse which would move from Revin to Liège. Imagine a monster as big as a calf and having the appearance of a lizard. This Nessie local rarely shows up, but his appearances always carry bad omens. According to tradition, it emerges from the waters to announce impending disasters : wars, epidemics, death and desolation.
Mothers who were upset with their child who did not want to obey, found a formidable method, it was the threat of the Mawhot. It can therefore emerge from the water, when she said:
- There's the Mawhot, if you weren't nai, you're already going to fuck up mindjie (Here is the Mawhot, if you don't shut up right away, I'm going to make you eat).
This threat proves effective in bringing their child back into line.
Personalized testimonies nonagenarians claim to have it preview in Revin and Givet in 1870, during the month of July. These stories were documented by Albert Meyrac, a specialist in Ardennes legends, thus adding credence to this legend which mixes folklore and local history.
In short, between legend and reality, the Mawhot continues to captivate the minds and hunter the inhabitants of our region!
Little advice
If you ever find yourself confronted and pursued by this legendary creature, throw him an item of clothing to distract him. There's a 50/50 chance he'll go for it, which isn't very reassuring, but still better than nothing, right?


So, what do you think of these mysterious legends? Ready to explore these fascinating tales in person? Maybe you'll come across Nutons, will you find traces of the Three Brigands of Givet, or will you see the shadow of Madame de Cormont…Or even meet you the Mawhot.
Adventure awaits!
Themes