The Fort de la Chartreuse, perched majestically on the heights of Liège, is much more than just a historical monument: it is a living testament to the city's defense throughout the ages. After serving for over 150 years, this imposing fort now lies abandoned, left to the mercy of encroaching vegetation and the graffiti that adorns its walls. Yet, despite its dilapidated state, the fort and its grounds remain open to the public free of charge, attracting the curiosity of many visitors seeking adventure and history to discover.
The history of the Chartreuse fort goes back a long way. In 1124, canons of the Premonstratensian Order established a monastery on these same heights above Liège. In 1360, the monastery passed into the hands of the Carthusian Order, which gave it its current name.
However, the fort as we know it today was erected in 1817, during the Dutch period. It was named in honor of the Carthusian Order, whose legacy it perpetuates.
Throughout its eventful history, the fort has served various purposes. It was used as a simple barracks from 1891, then transformed into a German prison during the First World War (1914-1918). Later, during the Second World War, it served as a military hospital for the American army in 1944. Finally, it was repurposed as a Belgian military training center.
In 1981, the fort was officially decommissioned, and its gates were permanently closed in 1988. Since then, this fortress steeped in history seems to watch silently over the city, an impressive vestige of the past that continues to captivate the imagination of those who dare to venture onto its grounds.
