Moulin Curtius

Moulin Curtius is a former watermill in Vaux-sous-Chèvremont, part of the municipality of Chaudfontaine in the province of Liège, Belgium. The building stands on an artificial branch of the Vesdre river, a channel originally dug to feed water-powered installations at this site.

Where does the name come from?

The site takes its name from Jean Curtius, a Liège industrialist and military supplier, who in August 1595 bought the mill after it had fallen into ruin along with the surrounding canal. It is his name, rather than that of the original builders, that has stayed attached to the place ever since.

How did the canal and the first mill come about?

The story of the site goes back to the mid-16th century. In 1549 the lord of La Rochette, Warnier de Gulpen, granted two businessmen, Raskin Germeau and Thomas Gilman, the right to dig a canal along the Vesdre at Vaux-sous-Chèvremont, near present-day Chaudfontaine. The canal was meant to channel water to drive industrial equipment. A few years later, in 1564, a hydraulic rock-crusher — a type of mill used to grind stone or ore — was built on its bank, marking one of the earliest industrial uses of the site.

Why did the canal fall into disrepair?

At some point activity at the site ceased and the canal was abandoned. The mill itself deteriorated and stood derelict for years before it found a new owner at the end of the 16th century.

What did Jean Curtius do with the mill?

When he bought the ruin in 1595, Jean Curtius held the position of General War Supply Commissioner in the service of King Philip II of Spain, a role tied to supplying the army with materials it needed, including gunpowder. Curtius converted the former watermill into a gunpowder factory, using the water flowing through the artificial canal to power the production equipment. This move fit within Curtius's broader business activities in the Liège region, where he was known for his investments in the arms and metallurgy industries.

What is on the site today?

The former industrial building has survived to the present day, though its function has changed. It now houses a private residence — a place that served industrial production for centuries now serves as a private home. The site remains a testament to the early modern industrial history of the Vesdre valley and to the role played there by local entrepreneurs and military suppliers such as Jean Curtius.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Moulin Curtius located? The site lies in Vaux-sous-Chèvremont, a locality within the municipality of Chaudfontaine in the province of Liège, on an artificial branch of the Vesdre river.

How old is the site? The canal that fed the original water-powered installations was dug in 1549, and the first industrial installation — a hydraulic rock-crusher — was built there in 1564.

Who was Jean Curtius? He was a Liège industrialist and General War Supply Commissioner for King Philip II of Spain, who bought the ruined mill in 1595 and converted it into a gunpowder factory.

Can the mill be visited today? No — the building now serves as a private residence and is not open to the public as a tourist site.