The mayor of Gesves, Martin Van Audenrode, expressed his great dismay upon discovering that the cave bear, Ursus spelaeus, which was discovered in the Grottes de Goyet, Gesves in 1868 by Édouard Dupont, was present at the “Lighthouse” in Andenne during his private visit. The adult male skeleton of the bear, owned by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences for 150 years, had to remain exposed in the bays of the Museum in Brussels under an ancestral agreement to ensure its preservation.
Martin Van Audenrode publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, supported by the entire Communal College of Gesves. He stated that the Goyet’s bear is a gem of the Gesvois cultural heritage and should be returned to its rightful place. He also expressed his annoyance that major tourist centers in the Meuse region, like Andenne, consistently try to absorb customers from neighboring territories. Martin Van Audenrode demanded the relocation of the folkloric event, the Carnival of the Bears, from Andenne to Goyet from 2024.
The Communal College of Gesves scheduled a crisis meeting on April 3 at the Grottes de Goyet in the presence of legal advisers to discuss the situation, and official information will be sent to the Andenese authorities.
It is with great dismay that the mayor of the municipality of Gesves, Martin Van Audenrode, noted, as part of a private visit to the “Lighthouse” in Andenne, the presence on the premises of the cave bear – Ursus spelaeus – which had been discovered in the Grottes de Goyet, in the commune of Gesves, in 1868 by Édouard Dupont.
The skeleton of this adult male, property of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and kept in its collections for 150 years, had to, according to the terms of an ancestral agreement and in order to guarantee the good conservation of these fossils, remain exposed in the bays of the Museum in Brussels.
Supported by the entire Communal College of Gesves, Martin Van Audenrode wishes to publicly express his dissatisfaction with this situation:
“While it is true that we maintain good professional relations with the authorities and municipal services of Andenne, we cannot tolerate such usurpation. Goyet’s bear represents a gem of the Gesvois cultural heritage, inseparable from the setting that was its home for 100,000 years: the Caves of Goyet. Moreover, it is an element of pride or even a symbol of virtue for many Gesvois. It is time for this treasure to return to its rightful place.”
The mayor also shows some annoyance: “The municipalities of Gesves and Andenne belong to two distinct tourist entities. For our part, we collaborate, within the Maison du Tourisme Condroz-Famenne, with other rural municipalities and, the phenomenon is not new, we feel that the major tourist centers in the Meuse region like Andenne systematically try to absorb the customers from neighboring territories, less exposed. This must stop! “
Finally, he points out that the Gesvois population is not fooled: “The diversion of our Heritage has served the interests of the Andenese community for nearly 70 years with the annual Carnival of the Bears. This event is a real hoax! On the sidelines of the repatriation of the Ursid, we demand the relocation of the folkloric event to Goyet from 2024. A date has already been put forward in agreement with the traders in the area: Tuesday, March 19, 2024, date of Saint José, feast eminently symbolic for most Gesvois.”
The Communal College of Gesves indicates, moreover, that a crisis meeting is already scheduled for Monday, April 3 at the Grottes de Goyet, in the presence of the legal advisers of the Commune. A useful follow-up will be given and official information will be sent to the Andenese authorities.
In conclusion, the mayor of Gesves, Martin Van Audenrode, has expressed great dismay over the presence of the cave bear – Ursus spelaeus – in the Lighthouse in Andenne. This fossil, which was discovered in Gesves in 1868, belongs to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and has been kept in its collections for 150 years. The mayor has demanded that this treasure be repatriated to its rightful place and returned to the Caves of Goyet. He has also called for the relocation of the folkloric Carnival of the Bears to Goyet from 2024. The Communal College of Gesves has scheduled a crisis meeting to discuss the matter further, and official information will be sent to the Andenese authorities. It is clear that the Gesvois population is not happy with this situation and seeks to protect its cultural heritage.
