Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium

Marche-en-Famenne (French pronunciation: ​[maʁʃ ɑ̃ famɛn]; Walloon: Måtche-el-Fåmene, pronounced [mɑːtʃ ɛl fɑːmɛn]) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. The Marche-en-Famenne municipality includes the former municipalities (sections) of Aye, Grimbiémont, Hargimont, Hollogne, Humain, Lignières, Marloie, On, Roy, Verdenne, and Waha.

In the early Middle Ages, Marche was just a little hamlet on the Marchette brook, one of the dependencies of the nearby Abbey of Stavelot. In the 12th century, this territory was made part of the County of La Roche. It was ideally located, on the main road between Namur and Luxembourg City, and quickly evolved into a town, which obtained its charter in the 13th century. At the end of the century, in true medieval fashion, it acquired a complete system of defensive walls, with two gates, a series of watchtowers, and a keep. The market place and religious organizations, such as the Carmes convent founded in 1473, could thrive inside the closed city.