One from our little trip to Belgium.
The History
Built between 1817-1823 by the Dutch Army.
1830 - During the Belgium revolution, the Belgian Forces took it over & used it as barracks.
1891 - Decommissioned but continued to be used as barracks.
1892 - Belgium built 12 modern fortifications around the city.
1914 - WW1, Battle of Liege - The forts around the city were unable to withstand the heavy attack, occupying German army moved further into Belgium and Fort de la Chartreuse become a military prison for the Belgian's captured after battle.
1918 - Germany agreed a truce returning Liege to Belgium control. Fort de la Chartreuse became a barracks once again.
1940 - WW2, 18 Day's Campaign - The Nazi's occupied Fort de la Chartreuse after Belgium surrendered and became a Belgium prison again.
1944 - The American Forces liberated the town and Fort de la Chartreuse became a military hospital for allied forces.
1945 - Became a training barracks for the Belgium army.
1981 - Demilitarised.
1988 - The last of the military army left and has been abandoned since.
The Explore
It was damn cold & windy but the show must go on.......! Taking only the essential photos (clearly not with 180 photos to cull) and not giving a care about composition because those fingers of mine were about to fall off.
We'd had a brief look at photos and videos online but it sure didn't prepare us for the scale of this place. 4 hours went by in a flash and we'd still not completed the site before we had to head for the train. I guess we'll have to swing by again, preferably in summer time.
r
Some old photos I found on our friend, Google:
The History
Built between 1817-1823 by the Dutch Army.
1830 - During the Belgium revolution, the Belgian Forces took it over & used it as barracks.
1891 - Decommissioned but continued to be used as barracks.
1892 - Belgium built 12 modern fortifications around the city.
1914 - WW1, Battle of Liege - The forts around the city were unable to withstand the heavy attack, occupying German army moved further into Belgium and Fort de la Chartreuse become a military prison for the Belgian's captured after battle.
1918 - Germany agreed a truce returning Liege to Belgium control. Fort de la Chartreuse became a barracks once again.
1940 - WW2, 18 Day's Campaign - The Nazi's occupied Fort de la Chartreuse after Belgium surrendered and became a Belgium prison again.
1944 - The American Forces liberated the town and Fort de la Chartreuse became a military hospital for allied forces.
1945 - Became a training barracks for the Belgium army.
1981 - Demilitarised.
1988 - The last of the military army left and has been abandoned since.
The Explore
It was damn cold & windy but the show must go on.......! Taking only the essential photos (clearly not with 180 photos to cull) and not giving a care about composition because those fingers of mine were about to fall off.
We'd had a brief look at photos and videos online but it sure didn't prepare us for the scale of this place. 4 hours went by in a flash and we'd still not completed the site before we had to head for the train. I guess we'll have to swing by again, preferably in summer time.
r
Some old photos I found on our friend, Google: