Porte du moulin des batteurs - Dinant

In the 13th century, Dinant fortified its banks with a rampart, which also formed an administrative boundary for the city.

In this enclosure, the "Island" district (where you are) is particularly dedicated to the copperware industry , the flagship of the region's economic activity in the Middle Ages.

The cauldrons or beaters (their mill is a little upstream then) hammer or melt the brass to make various utensils.

In a quarter where the Klopper mill was located, the ore is ground, which mixed with copper gave brass, which was then melted and then hammered to make cauldrons or chandeliers, for example.

In 2008, a preventive excavation carried out by the Wallonia Public Service uncovered an alley leading through the dam to the Meuse and access to the banks: the Porta del Moulin des Batteurs . This was reassembled piece by piece during the construction of the oblate residence. The upper part that has not been preserved is hypothetical.

It was built two meters closer to the banks of the Meuse than when it was originally placed.

Willem Vandenameele