Fort de la Chartreuse, Liège

I went to the fort about 2 months ago with 2 friends of mine. The small central buildings we're demolisched. The fort itsself is huge and in OK shape! We spent like 4,5 hours just walking to see all floors, take pictures ect. De tunnels around the fort have been pumped with mud and stone and so are not accesable except for a small crawlspace that was not blocked with sand and rubble. The crawlspace switches between 40 and 200 cm. (full tunnel space) there also are 2 houses behind the fort. 3 small buildings in front of the fort, an old slaughterhouse and an old factory hall. I recall seeing some more empty buildings, but I can't say im sure about those. because it was getting late and we had to drive 2 hours home.

We ran into some other urbanists, 3 teams just nodded, and walked on. There are plenty of old people and people who walk their dogs on the terrain, but they didn't mind nor notice us anyway.

Warnings:
- The attic is in bad shape, so don't kick the walls or do anything stupid!
- Don't go unto the wooden floors all the way in the attic, those are rotten and done for
- WATCH OUT FOR HOLES IN FLOOR ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN SOME CORRIDORS! Those are mighty deep and a fool could drop down 2 floors into darkness...

Thats it, Best urban exploring ive ever done!

A must see for all urbanists in europe I would say.

Easy to acces, Easy to find

My father, Ben Felson, MD, was stationed at Fortreuse. It was taken over by the American military for a General Hospital as
World War II moved along. He built a baseball field there by commandeering a military bulldozer. When
it knocked over the threshold (probably the missing entry you looked for) he worried about being court-martialed.
But he knew that Americans love baseball, so he'd probably be spared. Anyway, he kept quiet until after the war.

Thanks Slyv for the localization.
We make a new video of this place un CELATV
celatelevision.blogspot.com

I was there last weekend for a Airsoft skirmish. It must be one of the most amazing terrains i have ever seen.

Well, when i visited a few weeks ago, it was a paintball paradise :|

I arrived in Liege yesterday with my GF who is here for business. I had been researching Liege and with Remembrance Day so near, I decided to seek any Australian connections and the World Wars with liege. I was not disappointed.

Specific to the Fort however, it has been an amazing day. I basically hopped into a taxi from the airport and an hour later I was in Fort De LA Chartreuse.

On my own, wandering through the tunnels and rooms put an interesting edge to it. In addition I had visited the grave of an unknown Australian soldier in the nearby cemetery and seeing the quantity of surrounding graves, I could only imagine how may brave souls died in the Fort. (Yes there were a few second takes looking behind oneself down those long corridors)

Being Australian, white history is short compared to that of Europe and to be able to explore such a place without any 'trumpets playing' was amazing. This will be a sad loss.

Loss? On my leaving the Fort I spoke with no security guards but a couple of young fellow taking core soil samples (this indicates geotech studies for future foundation work). A quick chat and I was right, the buildings are to be demolished very soon.

Thank you to this website for such an amazing, unexpected experience and thank you to the Australians that died in both the nineteenth century World Wars in and around Belgium.

If you get a chance, don't miss this visual feast.

:-)

Yesterday we spend about 3 hours to take Photos and Explore the Buildings, and only at the last 15 min. we hear a Dog, but we couldnt see it.

I studied architecture as an erasmus in liege and this site was the subjet of the year. Now i am using it to do my final proyect. I was surprised to see this web site, i found really nice pictures.
Actually i wanted to ask if anybody has got any more information such as plans of the diferent buildings or anything that could interest me. Also if somebody is interested i have got some information myself.
THank you good bye!

Hi guys,

I've been inside the buildings last weekend. Didn't see or hear any security or guards. I used the (former) front enterance to get in. A simple case of climbing over the fence. Spikey bits had already been removed by previous visitors. They did however destroy some buildings behind the main three buildings. Just past the main gate on the right hand sight is the former prison block. All the old metal doors are still there. I' definitly check that one out!!! It was amazing.

Any update on the dog/security detail?

Well, to me it seems very unlikely that they would guard the place 24/7. It would cost to much considered the benifits. I'm sure you'll be able to enter on a random sunday.

I've heard that La Chartreuse is now guarded by watchmen with a couple of dogs and can't be entered anymore... is that true? I thought about a journey to Liège from Frankfurt...

Doug: for such a short walk, why don't you find out??

Hello I stay with family 5 minutes from this site. Is it easy to visit? It fascinates me. Ta Doug