Malakofftoren

Malakofftoren is a neo-medieval watchtower in Lembeek, a village that forms part of the town of Halle in Belgium, built in 1854. It was commissioned by Paul-Alexandre Claes, who a year earlier had bought the neighbouring 16th-century Lembeek Castle and decided to add a pseudo-medieval tower nearby as a memorial to the site's real medieval predecessor.

Where does the name come from?

The tower's name sounds like an echo of the Crimean War, but its origin is far less serious than it appears. Malakofftoren never formed part of Lembeek's defensive walls and has never withstood a real siege. The only "battle" it ever saw was a flamboyant garden party staged in its grounds, during which guests re-enacted the Battle of Malakoff — fought on 7 September 1855 between French and Russian forces on the Crimean peninsula, as part of the siege of Sevastopol. It is this social event, rather than any actual warfare, that gave the tower its name.

Where exactly is the tower?

Lembeek is a village of around 7,256 inhabitants within the municipality of Halle. The tower stands within the Malakoffdomein, a nature area regarded as one of the most beautiful spots in Halle. Its surroundings feature an old meander of the river Zenne, ponds, marshland and flower-rich grasslands.

What else is there to see nearby?

The Malakoffdomein underwent a major clean-up, completed in 2015, during which roughly 24,000 tonnes of heavily polluted sludge were removed from the old Zenne meanders. The area's three large ponds are now linked by fish ladders, and their banks have been reinforced with fishing platforms added.

A longer walking loop of around 14 kilometres also runs through the area, winding past the most scenic corners of the region — between the Zenne river, Malakoffdomein, Maasdalbos, Lembeekbos, Warandepark, Berendries and the Hallerbos forest. The route is open year-round and marked with pine marten ("boommarter") signs, and can be started from Lembeek (near the station or village centre), from Essenbeek (near the church), or from the Hallerbos Forest Museum.

Frequently asked questions

Did Malakofftoren ever serve a defensive purpose? No. Despite its martial name and medieval appearance, the tower was purely decorative from the start — a folly, meaning an ornamental garden structure built for visual effect rather than defence.

Why is it named after a Crimean War battle if it never took part in any war? The name refers to the Battle of Malakoff during the Crimean War (1853–1856), fought as part of the siege of Sevastopol in September 1855. In Lembeek, however, the "battle" was only ever re-enacted as part of an extravagant garden party, and it is from that event that the tower took its name.

Who built the tower, and when? It was built in 1854 on the initiative of Paul-Alexandre Claes, owner of the neighbouring 16th-century Lembeek Castle, as a nod to the genuine medieval stronghold that once stood in the area.

What can visitors do around the tower? The area surrounding Malakofftoren, the Malakoffdomein, is a nature reserve with ponds, marshland and grasslands, ideal for walking. Nearby, a roughly 14-kilometre walking route connects several of the region's forests and parks, including the well-known Hallerbos.

Was the surrounding area ever polluted? Yes — the old meanders of the Zenne river here required extensive cleaning, completed in 2015, during which about 24,000 tonnes of polluted sludge were removed, improving both water quality and the condition of the pond banks.