fbpx
The Chartreuse of Liege
Explore more nearby places in Belgium, Liege

Abandoned and Forbidden Piece of History

Now an abandoned fortress in Belgium, Fort de la Chartreuse has an exciting history of almost 200 years behind it. Although the images of this site are by no means beautiful, it still attracts explorers for unique reasons. 

To talk about The Chartreuse of Liege, you must go as far back as to 1084, when the Order of Carthusian was formed.

The Carthusian Order

This order was named after the Chartreuse Mountain range in the French Alps, where a group of Monks lead by Saint Bruno who was determined to follow the rigorous lifestyle of the hermits of the Egyptian desert, built the first monastery in 1084 with the help of Bishop Hugh of Grenoble. 

From this grew a new monastic order that increased across Europe. The Monks were known as Carthusians and their monasteries as Charterhouses.

Saint Bruno then went on to form the monastery Della Torre in Calabria, where he sadly passed in October 1101. 

In the middle of the 13th century began the female monasteries. By the 16th century, the male monks had reached its maximum with two thousand three hundred fathers and one thousand two hundred and fifty brothers. With rapidly growing numbers, they were concerned about their survival. Hence, the monastery started accepting donations by way of money and gifts. Many monasteries are also made to be masterpieces of religious art.

At the French Revolution in the 18th century, many monks have driven away from the Grande Chartreuse. They returned in 1816, but they were  driven out again. Since then the Carthusian Order slowly began to shrink and is survived today by only 25 houses worldwide with just 350 male and 75 female members.

Carthusian Order and their Customs

The only way of living according to the Carthusian Order is to live by contemplation. They live a solitary life by refusing any means of wealth, honour and power.

The First Codification of the Carthusian Order

Carthusian rule was written by Father Guigues the fifth prior, and approved by Pope Innocent II in 1130. 

The Predecessors of The Chartreuse of Liege

The Emperor of Germany, Henry IV died in 1106 in Liege, and his remains were placed in Mont Cornillon for a brief period of time. Consecrated in honour of the Virgin and the twelve apostles, it became the cradle of the institute of the Fathers in Liege.

Tired of acts of violence and pillage, the monks left Mont-Comillon in 1288 to settle in the Bard de la Meuse (current seminar). The left shrine was transformed into a fortress which was overthrown at the beginning of the 14th century. The place became deserted and remained so until the arrival of the Carthusians. Let us point out that at the bottom of Mont-Cornillon there was a community of which one of the priories, Saint Julienne de Cornillon, was the instigator of the Fete-Dieu.

The Charterhouse of The Saints Apostles

In 1357, Engelbert de la Mark, prince-bishop of Liege and future archbishop of Cologne, decided to establish on the site of the old fortress of Mont-Cornillon a monastery of the Carthusian order.

Providential donations allowed its construction and, on June 4, 1360, the monks settled. They dug a gallery in the hill to obtain water and, in 1381, received the authorization to build a bridge over the deep road that crossed their land. This bridge is the ancestor of the fortified bridge that we know.

Fort de la Chartreuse – The Present Day

Once a majestic fortress built to protect against the French, it soon lost its purpose when they understood that the fortress was not equipped to do what it was built for. Captured by the Belgian rebels in 1830 the Fort de la Chartreuse was only used as barracks. In 1914 Liège was conquered by the Germans, the Chartreuse was used as a prison holding Belgian soldiers and civilians. There are three monuments erected at the entrance of the la Chartreuse in memory of these fallen Belgian soldiers and their sacrifice.

During the second world war, the Chartreuse served as a hospital for the American army housing thousands of men.

In the present day, Fort de la Chartreuse is completely abandoned. Its walls are gutted and filled with graffiti. Windows are either broken or completely torn out, leaving huge halls on what’s left of the walls. It certainly is not a beautiful sight. However, the tragic history of Fort de la Chartreuse is somewhat fascinating to explorers, yet a little eery. This may be why it is now attracting Urbex for exploration and hiking even when if it’s forbidden. 

Fort de la Chartreuse has undoubtedly seen its better days. Today very little is remembered of these falling ruins. 

Rue Achille Lebeau 4030, 4030 Liège, Belgium

Where is it on the Map?

Rue Achille Lebeau 4030, 4030 Liège, Belgium

Explore more places in Europe

Explore more nearby places in Belgium, Liege
See more in Can't retrieve term. In case if you changed taxonomy slug for this term, please update widget settings to use new taxonomy slug.

Abandoned and Forbidden Piece of History

Now an abandoned fortress in Belgium, Fort de la Chartreuse has an exciting history of almost 200 years behind it. Although the images of this site are by no means beautiful, it still attracts explorers for unique reasons. 

To talk about The Chartreuse of Liege, you must go as far back as to 1084, when the Order of Carthusian was formed.

The Carthusian Order

This order was named after the Chartreuse Mountain range in the French Alps, where a group of Monks lead by Saint Bruno who was determined to follow the rigorous lifestyle of the hermits of the Egyptian desert, built the first monastery in 1084 with the help of Bishop Hugh of Grenoble. 

From this grew a new monastic order that increased across Europe. The Monks were known as Carthusians and their monasteries as Charterhouses.

Saint Bruno then went on to form the monastery Della Torre in Calabria, where he sadly passed in October 1101. 

In the middle of the 13th century began the female monasteries. By the 16th century, the male monks had reached its maximum with two thousand three hundred fathers and one thousand two hundred and fifty brothers. With rapidly growing numbers, they were concerned about their survival. Hence, the monastery started accepting donations by way of money and gifts. Many monasteries are also made to be masterpieces of religious art.

At the French Revolution in the 18th century, many monks have driven away from the Grande Chartreuse. They returned in 1816, but they were  driven out again. Since then the Carthusian Order slowly began to shrink and is survived today by only 25 houses worldwide with just 350 male and 75 female members.

Carthusian Order and their Customs

The only way of living according to the Carthusian Order is to live by contemplation. They live a solitary life by refusing any means of wealth, honour and power.

The First Codification of the Carthusian Order

Carthusian rule was written by Father Guigues the fifth prior, and approved by Pope Innocent II in 1130. 

The Predecessors of The Chartreuse of Liege

The Emperor of Germany, Henry IV died in 1106 in Liege, and his remains were placed in Mont Cornillon for a brief period of time. Consecrated in honour of the Virgin and the twelve apostles, it became the cradle of the institute of the Fathers in Liege.

Tired of acts of violence and pillage, the monks left Mont-Comillon in 1288 to settle in the Bard de la Meuse (current seminar). The left shrine was transformed into a fortress which was overthrown at the beginning of the 14th century. The place became deserted and remained so until the arrival of the Carthusians. Let us point out that at the bottom of Mont-Cornillon there was a community of which one of the priories, Saint Julienne de Cornillon, was the instigator of the Fete-Dieu.

The Charterhouse of The Saints Apostles

In 1357, Engelbert de la Mark, prince-bishop of Liege and future archbishop of Cologne, decided to establish on the site of the old fortress of Mont-Cornillon a monastery of the Carthusian order.

Providential donations allowed its construction and, on June 4, 1360, the monks settled. They dug a gallery in the hill to obtain water and, in 1381, received the authorization to build a bridge over the deep road that crossed their land. This bridge is the ancestor of the fortified bridge that we know.

Fort de la Chartreuse – The Present Day

Once a majestic fortress built to protect against the French, it soon lost its purpose when they understood that the fortress was not equipped to do what it was built for. Captured by the Belgian rebels in 1830 the Fort de la Chartreuse was only used as barracks. In 1914 Liège was conquered by the Germans, the Chartreuse was used as a prison holding Belgian soldiers and civilians. There are three monuments erected at the entrance of the la Chartreuse in memory of these fallen Belgian soldiers and their sacrifice.

During the second world war, the Chartreuse served as a hospital for the American army housing thousands of men.

In the present day, Fort de la Chartreuse is completely abandoned. Its walls are gutted and filled with graffiti. Windows are either broken or completely torn out, leaving huge halls on what’s left of the walls. It certainly is not a beautiful sight. However, the tragic history of Fort de la Chartreuse is somewhat fascinating to explorers, yet a little eery. This may be why it is now attracting Urbex for exploration and hiking even when if it’s forbidden. 

Fort de la Chartreuse has undoubtedly seen its better days. Today very little is remembered of these falling ruins. 

Rue Achille Lebeau 4030, 4030 Liège, Belgium

Where is it on the Map?

Rue Achille Lebeau 4030, 4030 Liège, Belgium

Explore more places in Europe

See more in Can't retrieve term. In case if you changed taxonomy slug for this term, please update widget settings to use new taxonomy slug.
Explore more nearby places in Belgium, Liege

Abandoned and Forbidden Piece of History

Now an abandoned fortress in Belgium, Fort de la Chartreuse has an exciting history of almost 200 years behind it. Although the images of this site are by no means beautiful, it still attracts explorers for unique reasons. 

To talk about The Chartreuse of Liege, you must go as far back as to 1084, when the Order of Carthusian was formed.

The Carthusian Order

This order was named after the Chartreuse Mountain range in the French Alps, where a group of Monks lead by Saint Bruno who was determined to follow the rigorous lifestyle of the hermits of the Egyptian desert, built the first monastery in 1084 with the help of Bishop Hugh of Grenoble. 

From this grew a new monastic order that increased across Europe. The Monks were known as Carthusians and their monasteries as Charterhouses.

Saint Bruno then went on to form the monastery Della Torre in Calabria, where he sadly passed in October 1101. 

In the middle of the 13th century began the female monasteries. By the 16th century, the male monks had reached its maximum with two thousand three hundred fathers and one thousand two hundred and fifty brothers. With rapidly growing numbers, they were concerned about their survival. Hence, the monastery started accepting donations by way of money and gifts. Many monasteries are also made to be masterpieces of religious art.

At the French Revolution in the 18th century, many monks have driven away from the Grande Chartreuse. They returned in 1816, but they were  driven out again. Since then the Carthusian Order slowly began to shrink and is survived today by only 25 houses worldwide with just 350 male and 75 female members.

Carthusian Order and their Customs

The only way of living according to the Carthusian Order is to live by contemplation. They live a solitary life by refusing any means of wealth, honour and power.

The First Codification of the Carthusian Order

Carthusian rule was written by Father Guigues the fifth prior, and approved by Pope Innocent II in 1130. 

The Predecessors of The Chartreuse of Liege

The Emperor of Germany, Henry IV died in 1106 in Liege, and his remains were placed in Mont Cornillon for a brief period of time. Consecrated in honour of the Virgin and the twelve apostles, it became the cradle of the institute of the Fathers in Liege.

Tired of acts of violence and pillage, the monks left Mont-Comillon in 1288 to settle in the Bard de la Meuse (current seminar). The left shrine was transformed into a fortress which was overthrown at the beginning of the 14th century. The place became deserted and remained so until the arrival of the Carthusians. Let us point out that at the bottom of Mont-Cornillon there was a community of which one of the priories, Saint Julienne de Cornillon, was the instigator of the Fete-Dieu.

The Charterhouse of The Saints Apostles

In 1357, Engelbert de la Mark, prince-bishop of Liege and future archbishop of Cologne, decided to establish on the site of the old fortress of Mont-Cornillon a monastery of the Carthusian order.

Providential donations allowed its construction and, on June 4, 1360, the monks settled. They dug a gallery in the hill to obtain water and, in 1381, received the authorization to build a bridge over the deep road that crossed their land. This bridge is the ancestor of the fortified bridge that we know.

Fort de la Chartreuse – The Present Day

Once a majestic fortress built to protect against the French, it soon lost its purpose when they understood that the fortress was not equipped to do what it was built for. Captured by the Belgian rebels in 1830 the Fort de la Chartreuse was only used as barracks. In 1914 Liège was conquered by the Germans, the Chartreuse was used as a prison holding Belgian soldiers and civilians. There are three monuments erected at the entrance of the la Chartreuse in memory of these fallen Belgian soldiers and their sacrifice.

During the second world war, the Chartreuse served as a hospital for the American army housing thousands of men.

In the present day, Fort de la Chartreuse is completely abandoned. Its walls are gutted and filled with graffiti. Windows are either broken or completely torn out, leaving huge halls on what’s left of the walls. It certainly is not a beautiful sight. However, the tragic history of Fort de la Chartreuse is somewhat fascinating to explorers, yet a little eery. This may be why it is now attracting Urbex for exploration and hiking even when if it’s forbidden. 

Fort de la Chartreuse has undoubtedly seen its better days. Today very little is remembered of these falling ruins. 

Rue Achille Lebeau 4030, 4030 Liège, Belgium

Where is it on the Map?

Rue Achille Lebeau 4030, 4030 Liège, Belgium

Explore more places in Europe

© 2018 - 2020 Copyright by Travel in Pink/Cloud Enterprises Ltd. All rights reserved.

No content may be copied without prior written approval.