Opening of the museum mai 1988 (≈ 1988)
Opening under the impulse of Henri Vastine.
juin 1995
Site extension
Site extension juin 1995 (≈ 1995)
Additional six hectares.
juillet 2003
Construction of main building
Construction of main building juillet 2003 (≈ 2003)
Addition of 1,200 m2 of museum space.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Henri Vastine - Founder of the museum
Passionate about agronomy and nature.
Origin and history
The Renwez Forest Museum is dedicated to the history of the Ardennes forest, its exploitation and the lifestyles of the people who depended on it. It is aimed particularly at schools and families, presenting tools, machines and reconstructions of forest trades of the early twentieth century. Models illustrate work techniques, while a bird park and a tree trail complete the visit.
Inaugurated in May 1988 by Henri Vastine, an agronomy and nature enthusiast, the museum expanded in June 1995 with an additional six hectares. In July 2003, a 1,200 m2 wooden and glass building was added, with exhibition rooms, a shop and a cafeteria. This place allows you to discover the Ardennes forest through the ages, the training, the regeneration, and the relations between users via a puppet theatre.
Outside, cabins and open-air installations exhibit tools, traps, agricultural machinery and a blacksmith's workshop. A blade wheel and wooden mannequins illustrate the forest trades and the impact of mechanization. The museum also offers a video on the recent evolution of the forest and a room dedicated to fauna and flora, explaining the functioning of the forest ecosystem.
