Bronhuis Roo Pijpfontein - Torhout

This is the 'Fontana Roopipe' with the fountain house or 't Torentje' on the edge of the Wijnendale forest.

The formation of the "Rauchpfeifenbrunnen" can be explained by the water from the slope. This phenomenon is related to the shape of the plateau, more precisely to the "Plateau van Wijnendale", which here reaches a height of 45 meters. The impermeable layer of clay or argillaceous rock - a layer of clay of tertiary origin - prevents deep penetration of groundwater.

Due to the large water supply under the plateau, there are seven wells on the southern slope of the 'Plateau van Wijnendale' , which are the source of a number of streams.

The earliest history of the Roo Pijpfontein is related to the origin of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkapel in the Fonteinepad . One hypothesis is that this chapel was built in gratitude for the discovery of a spring during a very dry summer during the reign of Count Boudewijn Hapken (1111-1129). Beyond this hypothesis, it is possible that the spring's water was diverted through an underground pipe to Wijnendale Castle .

The names "Roopype" and "Roopypfontein" refer to "Roodeland" or "Roodestich".

According to the literature, the fountain house was built in 1884 along with a water tank and distribution basin to collect water from the old well on the meadow above . During the war , the Germans installed a pump there to supply the troops with water more quickly ; the collecting basin with the two gargoyles is made inaccessible with a wooden formwork.

Willem Vandenameele