The history of the Val Saint-Lambert crystal manufactory deserves a place in school history textbooks at the intersection of eras and revolutions. A Cistercian abbey, founded in the Middle Ages near the town of Seraing, was closed by the passionate agents of the French Revolution, as was customary at the time. Its property was confiscated, the monastic order abolished, and the religious community dispersed. Part of the buildings was demolished, the bricks were sold off, and wild animals roamed the grounds. Named after a local saint, the canonised Bishop of Liège (7th century), Saint Lambert, the site fell into decline. Its revival is linked to another revolution – the Industrial one – and the rise of Liège as an industrial hub of a future (at that time five years away) Belgium. In 1826, two entrepreneurs, François Kemlin and Auguste Lelièvre, were granted permission to use the grounds of the abandoned abbey. It was an ideal 19th-century industrial “hub”: a picturesque valley, nearby coal resources, and, crucially, water. The monks had built to last. Two centuries ago, demolition was an expensive undertaking, so industrialists decided: “we will build around what already exists”. Glass furnaces required vast spaces, so they were constructed alongside the monastic buildings. The crystal manufactory is a case where extreme heat shaped a new architecture. The monastery became a “shell” around fire and metal. Val Saint-Lambert products conquered the world and became objects of collectible design. For antique enthusiasts, these three words are as familiar as the Lord’s Prayer. In 2026, the crystal manufactory has become part of the trend of renewing industrial heritage. The world has finally come to regard such sites as cultural assets. The revival of the historic site was made possible through collaboration between local authorities and committed sponsors. Val Saint-Lambert has been reimagined and reopened as an active craft production site, a cultural centre, and a museum.

On 11 April, Val Saint-Lambert launched its anniversary exhibition “Cristal Vivant – 200 Years of Light, Creativity and Excellence”, dedicated to two centuries of history, innovation, and glassmaking mastery. The retrospective offers a fascinating journey through time, revealing the evolution of crystal as a material, a craft technique, and a creative medium. The itinerary returns to the very origins of glassmaking – from the earliest Mesopotamian beads to contemporary glass objects. It illustrates how the material has changed over time, alongside technical advances and the diverse forms glass has taken. Glass and crystal are presented as constantly evolving materials, situated at the intersection of industry and art. The collection traces a progression from the decorative and luxurious crystal of the 19th century to more minimalist and conceptual contemporary forms, while preserving its essential qualities: the play of light, transparency, and the highest level of craftsmanship.

Glass proves adaptable to all styles – Neoclassicism and Empire, Art Nouveau and Art Deco, Modernism and Minimalism.

Let us pause on one particular artwork:

“Cloche” (“Bell”, 1989), created by designer Léo Coppers, is a striking example of contemporary artistic glass that moves beyond the boundaries of the traditional decorative or utilitarian object, approaching instead the status of an independent sculpture. This work is characterised by its expressive monumentality and is perceived less as a functional object and more as a spatial form, where scale, volume, and the purity of its lines play a decisive role. In Cloche, the emphasis shifts away from ornamentation towards the material itself – its remarkable transparency, density, and the way light interacts with its surface. This allows the sculptural potential of glass to be fully revealed. The experiment with form and proportions turns Cloche into an artistic statement, demonstrating how traditional glassblowing craftsmanship can be transformed into contemporary art.

Next project:

The immersive experience “Cristal Vivant: a journey through the history of Val-Saint-Lambert” is a 360° light installation created under the artistic direction of Luc Petit in collaboration with the studio Dirty Monitor. From 11 April to 21 June 2026, it transforms the space of the former monastic dormitory into a fully immersive visual environment. Through imagery of fire, sand, and radiance, the installation unfolds two centuries of glass and crystal history. Portrait-like projections of the silhouettes of master glassblowers serve as a tribute to their precision, patience, and the human craftsmanship at the heart of the art form. A spectacular show indeed. One might almost say it is a pity the monks cannot see what wonders are now taking place in their former sleeping quarters.

It’s an experience the whole family is sure to enjoy!

At a time when many traditional crafts are gradually disappearing, Val Saint-Lambert places particular emphasis on preserving glassblowing expertise. Apprentices continue to be trained here, ensuring that the unique knowledge and skills accumulated over two centuries are passed on to new generations. As a result, visitors can not only discover the history of crystal, but also witness living craftsmanship in action. During workshops, young glassblowers demonstrate the subtlety, precision, and jeweller-like beauty of the creation process. The pieces they produce can then be purchased at the nearby boutique at reasonable prices.

This autumn, “Lumina Crystallis” is also expected – a large-scale immersive performance, once again created by director Luc Petit. Unlike traditional theatre, there is no separation between stage and audience. Instead, the public will be immersed within the performance itself, where architecture becomes the main narrative medium, and walls, vaults, and space come alive through video mapping, light, music, sound effects, as well as the presence of actors, dancers, and acrobats. The performance unfolds the poetic and symbolic history of Val-Saint-Lambert – from its monastic origins to its industrial rise and artistic legacy as a crystal manufactory. It guides the spectator through a metaphorical journey of material transformation, where sand, fire, and human breath become crystal, and the very idea of craft becomes an almost alchemical act of bringing light into being.

Brief programme of the 200th anniversary year of the Val-Saint-Lambert crystal manufactory.

11 April – 6 December: exhibition “Cristal Vivant”

11 April – 21 June: immersive experience

11–12 April: opening weekend

26–28 June: Italian festival

29 August: “Le Val fait son cinéma”

September–October: “Lumina Crystallis”

12–13 September: Heritage Days

From 17 October: Halloween in the Woods

31 October: electronic night

November: ULiège lecture on glass

6 December: family day and closing event