Ardennes: The Mont-Dieu Charterhouse, a Historical Jewel Lost to Fire
On Sunday, November 2nd, the main building of the former Mont-Dieu Charterhouse, a Carthusian monastery in the Ardennes region, was devastated by a fierce fire. This site, recognized as one of the oldest Carthusian monasteries in France and classified as a historical monument since 1946, suffered extensive damage.
“There is no longer a roof, no more floor, only the walls remain. It was the Notre-Dame of the Ardennes,”
said Anne Fraipont, mayor of Tannay-le-Mont-Dieu, expressing deep sorrow.
Founded in the 1130s and rebuilt in the 17th century, the monastery stood in the middle of a forest. Despite firefighters responding quickly, the main two-story house, which was unoccupied at the time, was completely destroyed. An adjacent inhabited building was spared.
- Walkers raised the alarm in the morning after seeing thick smoke over the trees.
- Firefighters battled the blaze for 10 hours, controlling it by mid-afternoon.
- The site remains monitored due to lingering hotspots and the danger of collapse.
“It’s a catastrophe; we couldn’t save anything,”
added the mayor, mourning the loss of a treasured local landmark.
Though emergency crews acted promptly, this tragedy marks the end of an important chapter for the Ardennes’ cultural heritage.
Author’s summary: A devastating fire destroyed the historic Mont-Dieu Charterhouse, a cherished symbol of Ardennes heritage, leaving only its walls and memories behind.