The castle of the Trapperie

In Habay-la-Neuve, the ironworks once brought in a lot of money. It is no coincidence that industrialists in the 17^th century set their sights on this valley. There was an abundance of water and wood, the two basic ingredients for the iron industry. The fast flow and wide valley of the Rulles were ideal for building workshops. The river was channeled to meet the needs of the industry. In the Anlier Forest, enormous quantities of wood were found. This was converted into charcoal, the ideal fuel for the iron industry. Iron ore from French and Belgian Lorraine was transported by carts. In the mid-19^th century, decline set in. Prices for cast iron, poor economic conditions, high transportation costs, and a shortage of wood were the death knell. The factories were repurposed. Castle La Trapperie was transformed into a nail factory after the crisis.

kristien hansebout