Classified as a Small Walloon Heritage Site in Belgium, the former half-timbered sheep-fold of Otrange in the village of Oreye is one of the rare examples of the traditional 18th century Hesbignon construction that has survived.

Unfortunately, the wear and tear of time is a major threat to the street-facing façade of this exceptional building. The objective of this campaign is to raise the missing funds to restore the southern facade using traditional techniques.

The project has two objectives:

- to PASS on our heritage to new generations,

- SHARE this little gem by making it available for local activities.

The sheepfold :

• Its history

Whoever mentions the province of "Hesbaye" thinks "granary" and simultaneously "big square farm".

However, these huge complexes should not overshadow the smaller traditional buildings that made up the majority of the built landscape. Much more modestly, a multitude of small farms stretched along the roads. Built of perishable materials, only a few copies remain. Yet they were the most common houses, those that were said to be an architecture without an architect, because they were designed and built by the locals from what they found in the area.

Very few of these so-called "stud" or "Pans de Bois" buildings remain today.

In Otrange, while there were still some left in the 20th century, you will find very few today: this sheepfold, a house on the other side of the Geer, and some small parts of farms.

• Its architecture : STUD

• Why it’s of interest

Here is an excerpt from the letter from Mr. Alain Delchef of the association "Qualité-Village-Wallonie":

"There are only a few dozen monuments of this type left in Wallonia that are included in the inventory of immovable cultural heritage. In addition to its rather rare construction method, your sheepfold constitutes a trace of the life of small farmers in Hesbaye at the end of the 18th century. As such, it deserves to be safeguarded under the best possible conditions. Your restoration process therefore contributes to the slow re-appropriation of the daub, which requires qualified craftsmanship. »

• It’s presence in literature

• « Le Patrimoine Monumental de la Belgique (The Monumental Heritage of Belgium) – Wallonie - Volume 18/2, pages 482 et 483 »

• « Le cahier promenade paysage et patrimoine – Vallée du Geer – Oreye-Otrange » by Jacques Verstraeten and Julien Mols

• « Oreye – Bergilers, Grandville, Lens-sur-Geer, Oreye, Otrange » Brochure published on the occasion of the European Heritage Days, 13 September 1992 .

The activities proposed at the sheepfold :

• "Le Peup’Lié d'Otrange", is a Citizen's Collective for “better living together”.

Our wish: to eat healthy, local food, in accordance with our environment.

Our desire: to make the village spirit live in a spirit of sharing and good humour.

We are villagers from Otrange and the surrounding area who gather to buy fruits and vegetables, and other products - mainly organic - grown by small local market gardeners and fruit growers. We favour small local producers and limit our environmental impact: few trips, little or no packaging, organic or reasonable crops, no intermediaries,...

Le Peup'Lié is about discovering your neighbours and getting to know them. It means exchanging products, recipes, time, know-how, etc.

Le Peup'Lié are akin to potluck gatherings, organized by members for more conviviality, discoveries, exchanges,...

Currently, Peup'Lié's activities are spread between a portion of the sheepfold, the garden and the greenhouse. As soon as the renovation work is completed, the sheepfold will resume its full place in hosting activities.

• The Natural and Architectural Heritage walks

Once renovated, ideally located in the heart of the village and close to the Otrange meadows, the sheepfold will welcome departures and arrivals for countryside walks in sharing sweet and savoury treats.

- The "Natural Heritage" walks, organised by a nature interpreter, explore the grove meadows of Otrange and the remarkable Hesbignon landscapes along the river Geer in Wallonia and Flanders.

- The "Architectural Heritage" walks in the form of a walking rally, organised by an architect, are designed to discover the heritage of Otrange: the castle, the church and chapels, the farms, the old schools, the old mill, etc. After the walk, share a snack and a drink at the sheepfold.

• Schools in neighboring villages will be invited to discover this local heritage.

• Exchanges between neighbors will take place during potluck gatherings organized by Le Peup'Lié

• Flea markets will take place at the sheepfold

• Other activities will be organized according to villagers’ requests

A sheepfold to save and share !