Carrière et Fours à Chaux Dumont-Wautier
The Carrière et Fours à Chaux Dumont-Wautier is an abandoned lime kiln in Amay, also known as Usine Pinokkio. The factory stands near an old limestone quarry. For many years, workers burned stone here to make quicklime. Today the site has a new life as the museum Les Maîtres du Feu, but traces of the industrial past are still visible.
The lime kiln in Amay was built around 1889. The original name of the factory was Société Anonyme Carrière et Fours à Chaux Dumont-Wautier, a lime works founded by Hippolyte Dumont and his wife, whose surname was Wautier. This company took over the local limestone quarry, built new lime kilns, and developed the site into a major lime-burning operation.
Quicklime
The location was perfect because limestone came from the quarry next to the plant. Workers transported the stone directly to the ovens. Inside large kilns, they heated the limestone to very high temperatures. This process is called lime burning. The heat changed the stone into quicklime. Companies used quicklime in construction, agriculture, and industry.
The factory became an important production site in the region. Over the years, owners modernized the plant several times. They improved the ovens and added new industrial structures. Production continued for decades.
Its activity peaked in the early 20th century, with annual production rising significantly. Later on, Dumont-Wautier became part of the larger Lhoist Group, one of the world’s largest producers of lime and dolomite.
The Abandonment
But the economic crisis of the 1970s hit many heavy industries in Europe. Demand dropped, and costs increased. The lime factory in Amay likely closed during this difficult period.
When production stopped, workers left the buildings behind. Machines stayed in place. The tall kilns stood empty. Without maintenance, the structures began to decay. Rust-covered metal parts. Windows broke. Plants started to grow between the stones.
Locals gave the site a new name, Usine Pinokkio. Named after the strange shapes of the kiln.
What You See Today
Today the former lime kiln in Amay houses Les Maîtres du Feu, a museum about fire and industrial heritage. The old kilns are still the heart of the complex. Visitors can walk between the massive stone ovens. You can see how the limestone moved through the system. The industrial architecture feels raw and powerful.
Outside, the quarry walls rise behind the factory. This site shows how local industry shaped the region. The lime kiln in Amay is not just a ruin. It is a place where fire, stone, and history meet.
