Ardennes

Ardennes, in ancient times, the name given to a vast forest lying between the Rhine and Sambre rivers; in modern times, the name given to a hilly and wooded area extending from France through southeastern Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Rhineland, in Germany. The Ardennes cover most of the French department of Ardennes, the Belgian province of Luxembourg, parts of the Belgian provinces of Liège and Namur, and part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The hills, sloping gradually in a northwestern direction toward the plains of Flanders, are rarely above 488 m (1,600 ft) high. Large sections of the Ardennes consist of gently undulating plateaus, with oak and beech trees; other areas are marshy and covered with heath. The region became known for its rich timber and mineral resources.