Barrage de la Gileppe

A dam with an eight-metre lion

The Barrage de la Gileppe in the Belgian Ardennes is a nineteenth-century dam with something you will not find anywhere else: a stone lion on top. The sculpture is almost eight metres tall and looks out over the reservoir. That combination of solid masonry, water and sculpture makes this an interesting spot for both architectural and landscape photography.

The dam was built between 1869 and 1875 and controls the water of the river Gileppe. The reservoir behind the dam is surrounded by forest, and that forest is at its finest in autumn. Orange, red and yellow reflect in the water. Come in October or November and you have a good chance of those warm colours and thin morning mist above the lake.

Light and composition

The best light on the lion itself is early in the morning, when the sun is low and the relief in the stone becomes visible. Frontal light in the middle of the day flattens everything out. The lion faces roughly north, so you are working in sidelight most of the time. That works well for texture and volume.

For the landscape around the lake, the golden hour in the evening is valuable, especially if you are standing on the western side with the water in front of you. A focal length of around 24 to 35mm lets you fit the dam, the lion and the surroundings into one frame. If you want to isolate the lion and show detail, use an 85mm or longer.

Practical

There is a large car park at the dam, free of charge and easily reached via the N627 from Jalhay. Walking paths along the lake lead you past various viewpoints. The area is freely accessible and you do not need a permit for ordinary photography. Drones require permission and are subject to regulations above the reservoir, as it is a drinking water area managed by the SWDE.

It gets busy in summer and on weekends with fine weather. On weekday mornings in autumn you often have the place to yourself. Bring boots if you want to stand close to the water, as the banks can be muddy after rain.

Sources and further reading

• Barrage de la Gileppe (officiële site)
• SWDE, beheerder van het watergebied
• Wikipedia: Barrage de la Gileppe