Historical

Three stations ...
Three generations of researchers and defenders of the Hautes Fagnes

1924

As early as 1904, Professor Léon Frédéricq drew the attention of scientific circles to the exceptional interest of the Hautes-Fagnes region. His efforts, combined with those of Raymond Bouillenne, with those in charge of the King Albert Fund and the University of Liège, led in June 1924 to the erection of two wooden pavilions near the Mont-Rigi hostel at 674 m altitude. This first research station comprised two small laboratories, five bedrooms, a dining room and a kitchen, all covering 150 m². It was reached by taking the railway to Hockay, then continuing on foot, heavily laden, through fens and moors! All that remained after the war was the column of a chimney.

1947

On 8 October 1947, a new pavilion was inaugurated on the same site. Slightly larger (250 m²), the second station was built by the researchers themselves using wooden panels from field lodges abandoned by the US army. It could accommodate 17 people and had a large laboratory. The mantles of gas burners were soon replaced by electric bulbs, thanks firstly to a generator and then in 1964 to the extension of the network.

1975

On 23 January 1963, the University of Liège decided to set up a new interdisciplinary station, to be built on solid ground and placed under permanent supervision. But it wasn't until October 1970, when the necessary land had finally been acquired, that the station's management board, chaired by Professor Ruwet, and the station director, Professor Schumacker, were asked to draw up a detailed programme for the new building. Work began in November 1972 and the project was completed in spring 1975.

The first element of the station's rich heritage is ... the building itself. It was designed by the town-planning engineer and architect Jean Englebert, professor at the University of Liège from 1966 to 1994 (with René Schumaker in the photo below). A native of Vielsalm, he used his knowledge of the setting and materials of the Upper Ardennes, as well as their properties, to design the building we know today. A part of the University's heritage, the station is also a reference point and a subject of study for architecture students.

Pour en savoir plus sur la station - Musée virtuel