Oppidum du Trinchî

Overlooking the village of Cugnon, the “Fayet” promontory offers a remarkable natural viewpoint, surrounded by a wide bend in the Semois River. On this spur, covering approximately 6.25 hectares, stands the Trinchî fortification, situated in a location already well-protected by steep slopes and the river.

To further secure this strategic location, the inhabitants fortified the site using methods that were impressive for the time: earthen embankments, stone walls, and ramparts. To the south, a wide natural ditch approximately 100 meters wide made access difficult. The main rampart, 108 meters long, was rebuilt several times, evolving over time into a more solid structure that incorporated wood and earth for greater strength.

The entrance, located to the southwest, was carefully designed and guarded, as it constituted a vulnerable point in the defense. Other fortifications to the north and west completed this complex, forming a true organized defensive system.

Even today, the terrain’s topography and certain remains allow us to imagine the scale of these structures and how the people occupied and protected this site.

Archaeological research dates this fortification to the end of the Gallic period, over 2,000 years ago (the Late La Tène period, between 120 and 58 BCE), linking it to other known fortified sites in Europe.