Sanatorium du Basil, Borgoûmont, Belgium, April 2018

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HughieD

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1. The History
Located above the hamlet of Borgoûmont in a clearing in the middle of the woods at an altitude of 420 meters, this imposing building of approximately 150 meters in length faces south. Construction of the imposing sanatorium commenced in 1900 at the initiative of Ernest Malvoz, the then director of the bacteriological laboratory of the province of Liège. It was built of sandstone rubble and half-timbering with cut stone in angles. Its concave architecture was thought to increase the absorption of heat, air and light which was essential for TB therapy.

There was also a small tower erected in the middle of the building. The sanatorium welcomed its first patients two years later in 1903. When it closed as sanatorium it then served as centre for asylum seekers between 2010 and 2013 and then briefly operated as a nursing home before being abandoned.

2. The Explore
Been on my list after seeing pictures of it crop up on various forums. It’s deep in the reaches of the Wallonia region of Belgium and hence a bit off the beaten track. However its effectively a walk-up once you are there. So with a family hol not far away it was a no-brainer to swing past here. It is very popular with many Euro-urbexers so was very much far from alone. The place is already stripped but is now starting to get smashed up and graffed too which is a shame given it is such a stunning building. So plain on the inside but a sight to behold on the outside. What the future holds for this place is uncertain. Hopefully it won’t go the same way as a certain Welsh asylum. It would make a great hotel or resort but the money needed to invest in the place may be prohibitive given the location of the place.

3. The Pictures

Think we’re in the right place…

39539554390_c2c8735fb3_b.jpgimg5994 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Oh yes!

26476940547_f9dc4abf8f_b.jpgimg5995 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40467205545_af1bf4aaf9_b.jpgSt Basil 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Nice tower…

26476937277_83f7320f2d_b.jpgimg5996 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Digging the orange blinds..

40634840744_4322e6da70_b.jpgimg5997 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Solidly built:

27476760468_d1660a2a39_b.jpgimg5999 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41362675751_88aeebeb8b_b.jpgimg6037 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41305431032_8598521c10_b.jpgimg6001 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Loving the curvature:

41305421062_c74c572392_b.jpgimg6003 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41362672951_ec4d67ffd4_b.jpgimg6033 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And in its full glory:

26490974327_92318f0ca9_b.jpgSt Basil 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The inside doesn’t quite live up to the externals:

41305439022_c9a0fa74a5_b.jpgimg5998 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Lots of corridors and broken glass:
41319369992_520f913e20_b.jpgimg6039bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

And orange doors!

41319370332_b6d2664bff_b.jpgimg6038 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27491469198_8a25ca2e95_b.jpgimg6019 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And some fairly crap graff:

41319356992_f789be7eb5_b.jpgimg6022 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26491035357_3b443e515b_b.jpgimg6018 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Round the back:

39552974100_8e31321e7d_b.jpgimg6008 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And the boiler room is slightly more interesting:

40648802434_259de31b65_b.jpgimg6015 by HughieDW, on Flickr

39552976840_008f05baa4_b.jpgimg6013 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40648796524_e54087e2ed_b.jpgimg6012 by HughieDW, on Flickr

But really it’s all about this…

39552970790_f24cce7c9b_b.jpgimg6006 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
Nice one Hughie. Shame that the 20th C addition has ruined that striking facade. This is one of a number of typical layouts put forward by Medics in the pre antibiotic days. Apart from removing patients from the filth and grime of the inner Cities, it did nothing to cure them, just slowed the inevitable down. The British layout was rows of wooden huts in the countryside. Terrible disease TB, in my childhood every town had its 'Chest Clinic', complete with X-ray machine. In my home town of Doncaster, such was the urgency to get a grip on this illness, that the clinic was situated in the front room of a converted terraced house near Christ Church and the town centre. The Clinic and the 'Jelly Test' - two dabs of jelly medication placed between the shoulder blades were important tools in the fight against TB. If your X-rays were clear, but the skin under the jelly changed colour, then you had been in contact with the TB 'germ' but had grown an immunity and not been affected. Yes; after a long summer illness spent bedridden as an 11 year old, I tested positive but all my X rays were clear. Some of my school mates from less fortunate families were not so lucky!
 
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That's quite an awesome building. I see that Wiets has made his/her presence known. It's a pity you didn't venture further into the building as it gets interesting.
 
Externally that's very impressive, shame it's getting smashed up despite its remote location though.
 

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