The Semois (; ''Simwès'' in Walloon, often under elided form ''Smwès''; ''Semoy'', ''Sesbach'' in German, ''Setzbaach'' in

Luxembourgish Luxembourgish ( ; also ''Luxemburgish'', ''Luxembourgian'', ''Letzebu(e)rgesch''; ) is a West Germanic language that is spoken mainly in Luxembourg. About 400,000 people speak Luxembourgish worldwide. The language is standardized and officiall ...

Arlon Arlon (; ; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia, and the capital of the Luxembourg (Belgium), province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes, Belgium. With a population of just over 28,000, it ...

; and known as the ''Semoy'' in France) is a river flowing from the

Ardennes The Ardennes ( ; ; ; ; ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, extending into Germany and France. Geological ...

uplands of

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

and

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

towards the

Meuse The Meuse or Maas is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of . History From 1301, the upper ...

, of which it is a

right tributary A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream ('' main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which the ...

. The source of the Semois is in

Wallonia Wallonia ( ; ; or ), officially the Walloon Region ( ; ), is one of the three communities, regions and language areas of Belgium, regions of Belgium—along with Flemish Region, Flanders and Brussels. Covering the southern portion of the c ...

, in the Belgian province of Luxembourg, close to the border with the

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembourg ...

. Flowing in a roughly westerly direction, it enters France after passing through the Belgian village of Bohan-sur-Semois and forms about of the Belgian–French border. It joins the Meuse further downstream in Monthermé. The total length of the river is . Other places on the banks of the Semois are Chiny,

Florenville Florenville (; Gaumais: ''Floravile'') is a city and municipality in the province of Luxembourg, Wallonia, Belgium. It is located in the southwest part of the country bordering France, on the banks of the Semois river. Spread across an area of ...

, Herbeumont, Bouillon (including the localities of

Dohan Dohan (; ), sometimes known as Dohan-sur-Semois, is a village in Wallonia, Belgium. Dohan is a district of the municipality of Bouillon, located in the province of Luxembourg. Located in the southern Ardennes The Ardennes ( ; ; ; ; ), ...

and Poupehan), and

Vresse-sur-Semois Vresse-sur-Semois (, literally ''Vresse on Semois''; ) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Alle, Bagimont, Bohan, Chairière, Laforêt, Membre, Mo ...

(all in Belgium). The earliest documentation of the name, as SESMARA, is dated from the 2nd century AD. That was before that region was influenced by significant Germanic immigration. Medieval forms include ''Sesomirs'' (664), ''Sesmarus'' (950), ''Sesmoys'' (1104), and ''Semoir'' (1244). The river has given its name to a variety of tobacco grown in the area.

References

External links

*
Site of the Walloon regional archives. Flooding of the Semois in January 1995.
International rivers of Europe Rivers of Ardennes (department) Rivers of the Ardennes (Belgium) Rivers of the Ardennes (France) Rivers of Belgium Rivers of France Rivers of Grand Est Rivers of Luxembourg (Belgium) Rivers of Namur (province) Rivers of Wallonia Belgium–France border Border rivers Arlon Bertrix Bouillon Étalle, Belgium Florenville Herbeumont Tintigny Vresse-sur-Semois {{France-river-stub