Laminoir de Montignies
THE ABANDONED FACTORY IN BELGIUM
Nestled along the towpath and train tracks near the river Sambre, the ‘Laminoir de Montignies’ stands as a silent witness to Charleroi’s once-thriving industrial past.
Established by the company ‘Usines Métallurgiques de Hainaut-Sambre Couillet’. This rolling mill, also known as ‘laminoir n° 380,’ was constructed in 1970. Despite its promise, the mill’s history is a reflection of the region’s broader economic challenges.
The Rise and Fall of an Industry
Following the Second World War, the steel industry experienced a golden era of prosperity. However, the construction of the Laminoir de Montignies coincided with the onset of a global recession that marked the decline of this industrial sector. The mill’s promise of success was short-lived, as the steel industry faced mounting economic pressures.
From 1987 to 1999, the site found a new lease on life under the company BOMA. They established a center for recovering waste from the steel, glass, and food industries. When BOMA ceased operations, the facility was left abandoned, a fate shared by many industrial sites in the region.
A Glimpse into the Past
The Laminoir de Montignies, with its long shed stretching 650 meters and a gasometer standing at its entrance, now serves as a haunting reminder of Charleroi’s industrial glory days. The ‘Laminoir de Montignies,’ also referred to as ‘Usine Shelt,’ is just one of many fascinating abandoned sites in and around Charleroi. These locations tell the story of a region shaped by industry and resilience, now reclaimed by time and nature.
By the time I visited in 2009, the site was already largely empty, its vast halls stripped of machinery and activity. Yet, the lingering water inside the factory created striking reflections, transforming the decaying structure into a unique and atmospheric photo location. In 2014, efforts were made to clean up the site, but its essence as an industrial relic remains intact. The Laminoir de Montignies continues to captivate urban explorers and photographers, offering a glimpse into a bygone era. Explore more abandoned locations and delve into the rich industrial heritage of Charleroi here.
