Built on the banks of the Vesdre, the Impéria car factory looks like a small medieval castle, but only the sign on its façade and the short section of track on its roof still bear witness to its former glory.
Galerie photos
History
Built by a weapons manufacturer, the factory was taken over in 1908 by Adrien Piedboeuf’s automobile workshops under the Imperia brand, created in 1901.
The Imperia brand quickly gained worldwide recognition, thanks in particular to its technical innovations — such as the sleeve-valve engine developed in 1923 — and to its many successes in car racing, including victories at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, which boosted orders.
At the end of the 1920s, a rooftop track was built. Until then, testing had taken place directly on the streets of the neighboring village, causing numerous accidents. This track, almost unique in Europe (only Fiat’s Lingotto factory in Turin had one), allowed cars to reach speeds of up to 144 km/h. The oval-shaped autodrome started in the courtyard, climbed onto the roof of the factory, and descended again.
By the late 1930s, the factory employed 700 workers and produced up to 11 vehicles per day.
Imperia Museum
The Imperia Museum, located a few kilometers away, is unfortunately closed.
It was heavily damaged during the floods of July 2021. Although all the cars were saved (thanks to a five-meter-long Jaguar Type 5 which, lifted by the water, blocked the entrance and prevented them from being swept away by the Vesdre), they were still damaged by water and mud. Many display cases were broken, and countless historical documents were lost to the floods.
Visiting the Imperia factory
It is not possible to visit the factory, as it is currently occupied by a private entrepreneur and subject to a redevelopment plan that could include both a museum and housing.
The factory retains only two visible traces of its automotive past:
- The Imperia logo above the entrance post, on the medieval-style façade (classified since 2008), located along the main road.
- A section of the rooftop track still exists. While a small part can be seen from the main road, to view it in full (or at least what remains of it on the roof), you need to climb towards the village of Trasenster. Take Rue de Gare in Nessonvaux and continue towards Trasenster. After the left hairpin turn, the viewpoint will be on your left at the exit of the long right-hand bend (Rue Heid Mawet). A gravel area allows you to park there.