The Millennium Tower, also known as the Gedinne Tower, was built in 2001 as a lookout offering a panoramic view of the surrounding area. However, in 2008, safety concerns led to its demolition. After being rebuilt, it reopened to the public in July 2012. Today, visitors can enjoy a spectacular landscape stretching over more than 30 km, helped by an orientation table — all free of charge.
Galerie photos
Caemir, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Description
The Millennium Tower, rising 60 meters high, stands atop the Croix-Scaille plateau — a vast 9,000-hectare wooded area that played a crucial role in the Resistance in 1944.
Perched at an altitude of 503 meters, it is the highest point in the Ardennes region and ranks as the sixth-highest summit in Belgium. Over the centuries, this site has hosted the construction of four successive towers.
Located in the municipality of Gedinne, near the French border, it is easily accessible thanks to a dedicated parking area.
History
Construction of the Millennium Tower took place between March and September 2001 as part of a cross-border project. Designed by the Liège architect Daniel Dethier and built by the Claude Macors company of Hamois-en-Condroz, the tower is a fusion of wood and steel, primarily using Douglas fir sourced from the municipality of Gedinne.
Six trees — each 45 meters tall — were felled in half a day to supply the timber. Featuring an hourglass-shaped structure, it consists of a 32-meter wooden base and a 47.6-meter metal frame connected by steel walkways.
With three observation levels at 15, 30, and 45 meters high, the structure reaches 60 meters in total thanks to a red-and-white metal mast at its center. The tower was first assembled horizontally before being lifted upright during an eight-hour operation in August 2001. Its construction cost amounted to €625,000, financed 50 % by the Walloon Region, 40 % by the European Union, and 10 % by the municipality of Gedinne.
Unfortunately, the wood used turned out to be defective, and the tower was dismantled in July 2008. However, it was rebuilt in July 2012, this time using metal profiles, and is once again open to the public.
