Located right in the center of Verviers (Belgium), these abandoned barracks covers 2 hectares. It has just been sold at the time of our visit for 2 millions of euros and will be converted to housing.
We got very few information regarding this site, except that everuthing is extremely well preserved (zero tag, zero smashed window, incredible!), probably because the acces is not that easy.
The "Quartier du Major Cogniaux" is a pleasant & colorful exploration to do.
I did my military service over there Sept 1987 - August 1988. I could tell stories for days of what happened over there, but I will not
It's strange to see the place where I almost lived for 1 year in such a state as on the pictures. (no pictures of the Car-Park at the end of the street straight before the main entry ?)
I recognize the corridors,specially the one in the second series of pictures (b/w 6) which was the corridor where the office of the Luitenant was and the section personel (not on the picture, but there was a kind of little iron bridge at the right that went to the office) where we had to go and beg for our weekend-pass every friday.
The safe room I also remember. In my time the headquarters of the 1st division where over there and most military staff where captains,majors, and we even had a kolonel and a general - who was almost never there -. I worked a while on that floor and you needed a special pass to enter the safe room. I've only been in it once. It was a room full with giant maps on the walls where they played their 'wargames' on. After a while I was banned to the kitchen (I also recognize the place very well on the pictures) because there was a Captain who hated me just because I was from the Dutch speaking part of Belgium.
The pictures are from 2005 I see, so I guess it's all converted by now ? (on Google Earth it still looks a mess in satellite view) Bad luck, and no chance anymore to take more pictures myself now...
I know my great-grandfather came from Verviers - Rue Xhave. He joined the 12 Regiment de ligne in 1902-1905. Do you know if this is the barracks where he joined the regiment ?
hi,
i have done my militairy service here in 1981 i have also many pictures of this time
grtz, jo
Some body made a lot of money by selling all that for only 2 millions euros and converted to housing. How much do the apartaments cost now?
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