Couvent Agnus Dei (3rd visit) - 17 July 2020
Sanatorium du Basil (2nd Visit) - 26 October 2019
New information on the sanatorium
The sanatorium is standing empty since 2013 and was for sale for € 3.000.000, -. Since 2018 there is a new owner who is planning to make a hotel of this complex. But nothing has changed, just more damage to the buildings.
Dolhain Préventorium (2nd Visit) - 8 December 2018
Couvent Agnus Dei (2nd visit) - 8 December 2018
Cemetery of the Hands - 10 Augustus 2018
In the cemetery, the graves are classified by religious belief and separated with high-raised stone walls. The situation reflects the segregation among religions during the 19th century. But there is a special case. Two grave monuments, each grave in another section (Protestant/Catholic), transcend the erected walls and hold hands, merging into a symbol of universal love and unity. It is clear that this is a special relationship, one that transcends state, religious convictions, and stigmas and is now a global source of inspiration for many who can see the grandeur in it.
Sanatorium du Basil - 6 April 2018
In the Belgian Ardennes stands the imposing stately building. The Sanatorium du Basil. The initiative for the construction of a sanatorium, came in 1899 from the director of the Bacteriological Laboratory, Ernest Malvoz. The construction started around 1900 and in 1903 the first patients were taken care of.
The location on a hill in the middle of a wooded area is not chosen randomly. The clean air and soothing environment makes it a favourable climate for the tuberculosis patients to recover. In addition, the south-facing main building has been designed in such a way that, thanks to its curved shape, one can take full advantage of the sunlight. This had a positive effect on the treatment. The characteristic main building is symmetrically set up with a tower with clock as its centre. In the west was the medical department. On the first floor at the rear was the canteen and kitchen. The laundry and boiler room were located on ground floor with a beautifully bricked brick chimney.
After the period, as the recovery centre for tuberculosis patients, the building served as a psychiatric institution and from 2010 to 2013 as an asylum seekers' centre. The building was closed because of the enormous service costs. Since that time the complex was on sale for
€ 3.000.000, -.
Cemetery of the Fallen Soldier - 26 January 2018
This cemetery contains prestigious tomb monuments and is gradually becoming the Belgian "Père-Lachaise" (inspired by the famous Parisian cemetery of 1804). The cemetery also offers an overview of the artistic tendencies of neoclassicism to expressionism through romanticism and all other "neo-currents". This "open-air museum" contains works by the greatest architects and artists. The cemetery was protected as a landscape in 1999.
The Crypte - 26 January 2018
To solve the problem of the ever-fuller cemeteries was around 1870 the plan created to build a crypt. Crypts were a novelty in Northern Europe at that time. A good six years later, the construction of the crypt started. The most recent part was completed in 1935. The oldest part was built in neoclassical style, the last galleries in art-deco style. The Crypt contains 4.061 individual niches and various burial vaults intended for wealthy and noble families. The underground corridors are more than a kilometre long.
Dolhain Préventorium - 19 January 2018
This old art-deco hospital was a tuberculosis preventorium for kids. In the 1970s this hospital had 150 beds. Preventorium’s differed slightly from sanatoriums in that they catered more specifically to patients with an early state of infection. The Dolhain preventorium nestled along the Weser and the railway line Liege-Welkenraedt, knew it’s best days in the 70’s. Due to advances in medicine, that almost completely eradicated tuberculosis, the domain lost its purpose. The hospital was sold in the 1990s to a German company that planned lofts in the building. Now, many years later, the plans still haven’t been carried out.
Outside the hospital is an old fire truck. The Magirus-Deutz with a 30 meter ladder was used years ago by the local fire brigade.
Couvent Agnus Dei - 19 January 2018
As a result of the 'Kulturkampf' in Germany, a congregation of Franciscan sisters decided in 1875 to move to this location, owned by the Count of Bourcieu Montereux. At that time, the total area of the monastery covered more than one hectare of land. In 1908 it became the property of the congregation and afterwards the chapel was built. The other buildings then served as a Catholic school. After the First World War it was converted into a comfortable stay for the elderly. In September 2002, the nuns left the accommodations. A few weeks after their departure, a fire destroying part of the buildings. After this, the buildings are in a bad condition, the roof is gone and the floors are rotten. There are no plans other than leaving the monastery to the fate of nature.
Cemetery of the Skull - 12 January 2018
Cemetery of the Skull is a more than 200 year old cemetery, which is now protected as funerary heritage. In 1784, Emperor Josef II decided that no one could be buried in a church or in the city. For this reason, the city council bought a 2 hectare site in a sub-municipality that was set up as a cemetery. In 1787 there was the first funeral order and shortly thereafter became the general cemetery of the city. Over the years the cemetery has been extended to a 12 hectare domain.
Cemetery of the Insane - 7 January 2018
The cemetery of the psychiatric hospital was in use from 1921 to 1981. A farm and the surrounding plots functioned as a beggar's home. The beggar's palace continued until 1891, after which until 1920 it was the location of an institution for the re-education of justice children. From 1921, the insane institution takes up residence. Nearby a plot is set up as a cemetery for deceased patients. From 1921 to 1981, 1750 patients, only men, were buried here who no longer had any ties with their families. After closure of the cemetery it was decided to let it exist and let it be in harmony with nature.
Medical Youth Centre - 6 January 2018
In the mid-seventies the Monsignor Van Rijt Foundation started to build several pavilions. This foundation was created for the re-education of justice children. Later it was a Medical Centre for Children & Youth South Limburg. In 2015, the last organization moved to a new location and the pavilions have been vacated. For a while, squatters used the pavilions and in 2016 a fire destroyed one pavilion.
The site was completely demolished in the second half of 2018.
