Bru

The village of Bru is located with the forests of the Ardennes between Lorcé and Chevron. The name « Bru » is said to come from the sound produced by the exit of the gas from the water source (carbonated spring) The natural riches of this region are surprisingly diverse: iron, manganese, carbonic acid and shale have been extracted for a very long time. The source of Chevron has been known since ancient times. A map preserved in the archives of the Vatican describing the Luxembourg territories of the Roman Empire in the 4th century already speaks of "acidic springs" in the vicinity of the Amel, which, due to its geographical position, can only be the sources of Chevron.
In 814, Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne, donated the springs to the Abbey of Stavelot. Until the 17th century they were used by the monks of the abbey. On 3 December 1718, the Prince-Abbot of Stavelot gave his consent to the extraction of the spring water. Monsieur Presseux from Hautregard (hereditary officer of Chevron) transported the water to the surrounding villages. In the further course of the 18th century, under the influence of the merchants from Liège, the water from Chevron competed with the water from Spa in Liège and the surrounding area. At the end of the 18th century (marked by the French Revolution), the water market collapsed. Chevron becomes the owner of Bru, but it still takes a century before the water is commercialized. At the end of the 19th century, Chevron tries to sell the springs, but the location deep in the Ardennes valley deters potential buyers. In 1903, the first industrial bottling plant was opened. In 2001, the factory was moved to Lorcé.
The waters of Bru seemed to be good for the health of Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia. In 1717 he underwent several thermal cures at Spa. It is said that during his visit to Bru he drank 21 glasses of water and ate 3 kilos of cherries and 21 figs.
1903 The first industrial water collection and bottling plant is founded. In 1925 it was renamed "Compagnie Génerale de Chevron SA".
1934 The springs are protected by one of the first perimeter shooters in Belgium.
1942 Compagnie Générale de Chevron SA is taken over by Ernest du Bois by Finance et Industrie.
1981 The Spadel Group takes over the management of the Bru Spring.
1982 Establishment of the market "light bubbling water" after the presentation of "Bru ... the sparkling water".
1985 Spadel renames the company « Bru-Chevron SA ».
1994 Creation of the first guarded area for the protection of the mineral waters of Bru Chevron.
1996 Bru-Chevron obtains the ISO 9002 quality label.
1999 Bru-Chevron obtains the ISO 14001 quality label for its environmentally friendly management.
2001 New factory in Lorcé.
2006 After the factory moves to Lorcé, Spadel invests €1,500,000 to return the old factory site to nature and plants 400 shrubs to restore the original biodiversity.
2006 Introduction of the still minieral water.
2009 "Bru for two" : Presentation of an 80 cl bottle of naturally sparkling mineral water.
2010 Change in the design of the glass bottles.
Sources
JAROSZEWICZ-BORTNOWSKI M., Ils firent notre histoire : les anciennes seigneuries de La Vaulx Renard, Froidcourt, Lorcé, Rahier, Chevron, 1985, pp. 149, 164-165.
JAMAR Walthère, Chevron dans le passé, Desoer, Liège, 1938, pp. 235.
www.bru.be

-Built heritage
-Natural heritage

Fédération du Tourisme de la province de Liège