On Tombeux

Between the villages of Hamoir and Xhignesse, on the right bank of the Ourthe, stands a hill known as "Sur Tombeux," named after the discovery of a significant funerary necropolis dating back to the 6th century. Unlike other well-known slopes in the Hamoir region, the subsoil of this hill is predominantly made up of psammites and Famennian schists. There is a very characteristic acidophilic vegetation, which varies according to land use, whether forested, agricultural, or low grassland more or less overgrown. The most spectacular feature characterizing Tombeux is the presence of dry grassland facies on Famennian schist in fairly good condition. In the region, these sparse vegetations are rare, very dispersed, and most often cover a small area, making them valuable. Plant species of heritage value have been observed here, such as spring canary grass (Aira praecox), silver cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea), annual knawel (Scleranthus annuus), and striped clover (Trifolium striatum). These grasslands, long abandoned on the steepest areas, are subject to intense colonization, notably by broom (Cytisus scoparius), sloe (Prunus spinosa), and other thorny plants. The abundance of common broom is responsible for the establishment of a rare parasitic species, broomrape (Orobanche rapum-genistae), forming a beautiful population in this area. The good conservation status of the most thermophilic grasslands gives the entire slope a great restoration potential. The more forested areas are occupied by an acidophilic and quite thermophilic oak wood. The pasture to the north of the site has retained some interest, as indicated by certain plants that are sometimes abundant, such as red fescue.

Public Access: The maintenance of areas in good conservation status could be envisioned through extensive grazing.
Type: Site of Great Biological Interest (SGIB)

La biodiversité en Wallonie