La 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 short historical walk...
The Gileppe is a weight-type dam, meaning 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 work was born around the mid-19th century at the request of the Verviers wool merchants who needed thousands of cubic meters of water daily for the wool industry.
Construction began in 1867 and ended a decade later. The initial plans for the Gileppe were conceived and studied by engineer Bidaut. The dam was submerged in 1875. In 1878, King Leopold II attended the inauguration of the Gileppe. This monumental structure holds approximately 25 million cubic meters of water. The architectural ensemble consists of two alternating used to control the water, an enormous wall of 305 meters 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, an overflow is also present; the entire dam can be evacuated within three days.
In addition to its primary purpose as a reserve for drinking water, it is also a very pleasant place, located in the heart of the Hertogenwald.

Ton de Groot