Architectural style in the Ardennes is influenced by the local geology. The chalk found in the south means that the villages there are white, iron-bearing stone makes houses red, shale and slates impart their colour to house-fronts and roofs, and sandstone allows houses to capture the warmth of the sun.
The people of the Ardennes love to enhance the appearance of their villages, their houses and their streets. Every year, they win more and more awards in competitions for best-kept towns and villages.
A walk in Tailly or Bar les Buzancy, or a visit to Barby or Semide, all of which have won awards for floral decoration, will suffice to show you the extent of the talents of gardeners in the Ardennes. Village streets are winding, houses extend out along tracks and nothing is in a straight line, everything is askew. The rich heritage of each village is added to by the twisting streets which offer a feast of surprises to visitors on leisurely strolls.