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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Longwy's covered well was built at the end of the 17th century on the old square of the fortified town, simultaneously with the building of the stronghold. Designed as a siege well, it was intended to provide water to the civilian population in case of blockade. Originally equipped with a squirrel cage system, it was upgraded in 1857 by a steam pump and then in 1872 by a plunger mechanism. Powered by a source at a depth of 60 meters, it symbolized a major technical advance for the time.

Abandoned between 1908 and 1909 with the arrival of modern water supply, the well miraculously resisted the bombings of 1914, becoming the only survivor of the five original wells of the square. His robustness, including his massive roof, earned him the nickname of Bombproof Well. These exceptional qualities earned him a classification as historical monuments by decree of 2 September 1921, thus recognizing its heritage and technical importance.

Today, this covered well demonstrates the ingenuity of 17th century military hydraulic systems and their adaptation to civilian needs. Its state of conservation, despite conflicts and technical obsolescence, makes it a unique vestige of Longwy's defensive history. The property of the commune, there remains a tangible marker of daily life in a Lorrain stronghold, between military strategies and issues of collective survival.

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