The Gileppe Dam

You are at the foot of the panoramic tower, which is the starting point for many marked walks. The first one I suggest is a small historical walk…
The Gileppe is a gravity dam, which means that the weight of the structure itself is sufficient to withstand the pressure of the water. This dam is considered one of the oldest of its kind in Europe.
This magnificent structure was born in the mid-19th century at the request of the wool manufacturers from Verviers, who used thousands of cubic meters of water every day for the wool industry.
Its construction began in 1867 and was completed about ten years later. The first plans for the Gileppe were designed and studied by engineer Bidaut. The dam was submerged in 1875. In 1878, King Leopold II took part in the inauguration of the Gileppe. This monumental work holds approximately 25 million cubic meters of water. The architectural ensemble consists of two intake towers that are used to extract water, an immense wall 305 meters high, and a colossal stone lion (13.5 meters and 700 tons) which is the work of sculptor Félix Bourré. The maximum level that the lake can reach is 300 meters. To prevent a natural disaster, a spillway is also present; the entire dam could be evacuated in three days.
In addition to its primary purpose of being a reservoir for drinking water, it is also a very pleasant place, located right in the heart of the Hertogenwald.

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