Habay   ▪

Anlier
The pont d'Oye
The ironworks
Maurice Grévisse
The Mageroy Gallo-Roman villa
Rulles, the village of bridges

The Pont d'Oye, Châtelet, Bologne and La Trapperie sites.

It is not just by chance that industrialists became interested in the Rulles valley in the 16th century. Two main factors attracted them to this area: water and the forest. The fast flowing Rulles and wide valley made this an ideal spot for locating a water-powered factory. With the forest being so close by, wood was readily available and could be transformed into wood charcoal as an excellent and essential fuel for producing iron. Five factories were established in a short time just a few kilometres apart, forming an industrial centre which flourished for more than two centuries and was at the heart of the development of Habay-la-Neuve and Habay-la-Vieille and of the valley as a whole. These fantastic sites now form part of our natural surroundings. Their current state sometimes makes it easy to forget the significance of man's efforts to the control course of the Rulles.

The large lakes and ponds located between the factory and La Trapperie are, in fact, artificial reservoirs created to help regulate the course of the river. The river is thus 'channelled', its banks having been modified to meet industrial requirements.

The ore for processing is extracted in the Lorraine region of Belgium and France. Hundreds of trucks are required to transport the ore. Legend has it that the name of the region is derived from a Habay family of truck drivers, the Gaumets. The roads that they used still bear signs of their activities, with names like 'Rue des Mineurs' (Miners' Road) and 'Chemin du Charbon' (Charcoal Way).

During the mid 19th century, the factories began to decline over several years. This decline can be attributed to numerous factors: the intensive exploitation of the forest, a rise in the ironworks' cost prices, a poor economic climate and transport costs becoming too high. Reconversions were carried out: a paper mill in Pont-d'Oye, a wood mill in Bologne and Châtelet and an agricultural college and nails factory in La Trapperie.

The Pont d'Oye site
The development of Pont d'Oye is closely linked to the onset of industrialisation in the Rulles valley. The first factories were opened by Ferdinand d'Everlange who obtained the site upstream (i.e. the Pont d'Oye site) of a factory created at the bottom of the Châtelet lake in 1547. Two other masters also received the same concessions: Gérard Chapion and Adam Régnier. The factory of the former was known as the 'Forge du Prince' (which comes from the fact that Adam Régnier had to hand it over to the King in 1624).

Following the serious difficulties of the beginning of the 17th century (plague, wars), the factories experienced hard times. Pierre de Moustier, originally from Chimay and who already owned many furnaces, leased the 'Forge du Prince' ironworks for a period of twelve years on 22/07/1637.

In 1642, when Pierre de Moustier died, his widow Jeanne Petit continued with his policies. On 29th February, she established his manor as a seigniory and had a castle, chapel and mill built. The area was legally established as a seigniory and became the Pont d'Oye seigniory.

The manor subsequently had various different owners, including the famous marquess of Pont d'Oye who legend remembers as a rather negative character plagued by huge expenses.

During the French revolution, the factories were shut down and pillaging took place. The castle suffered the same fate; it was ransacked and partially demolished. The larger stones of the building were removed and sold. The factories were sold off in separate acts. On 24th September 1810, the Pont d'Oye factory along with the castle and 'Forge du Prince' ironworks were acquired by Antoine Joseph Albert. He then had large parts of the former seigniory building removed; today only the outhouses and stables remain. In 1827, he built a new manor house at the point where the castle currently stands.

In 1846, the new owner, Constant d'Hoffschmidt, transformed the factories and obtained permission to open a mechanised paper mill which was officially opened by King Léopold 1st. Constant d'Hoffschmidt set about improving the area. The two towers of the castle were built by him in around 1847. The paper mill then closed in 1884. The castle was acquired by the baron of Pitteurs-Hiégart who kept it as a family estate. All industrial activities came to an end and Pont d'Oye was transformed into an attractive private property.

In 1932, baron Pierre Nothomb acquired the property and was the driving force behind the revival of the Pont d'Oye site. A writer and poet, he transformed the area into a centre for artists, musicians, writers and politicians. He also laid the foundations of a new political opinion by supporting the conversion of certain buildings into outlets providing food and accommodation. The hotel industry is currently even stronger in Pont d'Oye. The establishments which have set up here are internationally recognised.