Villa Servais: Geert De Poorter Brings 19th-Century Cellist’s Legacy Back to Life in Halle

Halle (Eurotoday): Geert De Poorter has restored the 19th-century Villa Servais in Halle, Belgium, transforming it into a bed and breakfast and concert hall. Inspired by its history, he is building a garden seating area using blue limestone from the demolished local station, enhancing cultural events while honoring cellist François Servais’s legacy.

The villa of the legendary 19th-century cellist François Servais in Halle, Belgium, has been restored and is now owned by Geert De Poorter. It serves as a bed and breakfast, concert hall, and exhibition space, honoring Servais’s legacy while providing a venue for cultural events. De Poorter is also adding seating in the villa’s garden, creating a new space for outdoor concerts and events during the summer months.

How is Geert De Poorter reviving François Servais’s legacy at Villa Servais?

The idea for the new seating area in the garden of the villa is inspired by its historical significance. When François Servais lived there, the garden overlooked the local station, which was demolished in 1993. Geert De Poorter managed to get about 20 pallets of blue limestone from the original station building. These historic stones are being repurposed to create the seating tribune, preserving a piece of the past while enhancing the cultural atmosphere of the villa’s garden. This project blends history with modern use, creating a unique space where music and heritage come together.

It has been said that building the grandstand costs money, so Geert will sell champagne with a label of the Halle musician Servais and his favorite instrument, the cello. He also asked the community to help restore the villa. Many older people in Halle miss their old station. Now, the stones from that 19th-century building are being reused, making the grandstand special. Geert said the stones were in a waste container for years, then moved to Edingen, and now they are in the villa’s garden.


Comments

One response to “Villa Servais: Geert De Poorter Brings 19th-Century Cellist’s Legacy Back to Life in Halle”

  1. Breadmaker Avatar

    Reviving a 19th-century cellist’s legacy with a side of recycled limestone? Talk about a sustainable twist! Next, they’ll be serving tea from the last century and calling it avant-garde. 😏🍵

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Madrid Denies US Access to Spanish Bases for Iran Attacks

Madrid Denies US Access to Spanish Bases for Iran Attacks

The United States removed its warplanes from Spanish bases following Spain’s denial to use them against Iran, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced. Operations involving these bases must comply with “international law,” Robles stated at a press conference at the Armilla Air Base, indicating military facilities on Spanish soil are restricted from “providing sup

Read More

Kissing is an "evolutionary mystery"

Kissing is an "evolutionary mystery"

The reason humans kiss is still a major evolutionary enigma. Why has this seemingly impractical and risky habit persisted through evolution, and why is it absent in some cultures? A recent study, published in Evolution and Human Behavior, offers insights into the ancient roots of kissing.
Dr. Matilda Brindle and her team suggest that kissing might have emerged among the common ancestors of great

Read More

EU Criticized: 15 Months Without Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief

EU Criticized: 15 Months Without Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief

The Council of Europe has appointed a Special Representative on antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred, and religious intolerance. Despite the end of the EU Special Envoy on FORB’s mandate 15 months ago and the European Parliament elections 20 months ago, Ursula von der Leyen has yet to fill this vacancy, causing discontent within and outside the EU. Calls from various stakeholders for action hav

Read More

En accélérant sur le Mercosur, von der Leyen montre qu’elle pense pouvoir outrepasser la France

En accélérant sur le Mercosur, von der Leyen montre qu’elle pense pouvoir outrepasser la France

L’écrivain italo-suisse, expert en jeux de pouvoir et en autocrates, est une lecture incontournable pour l’élite politique européenne, notamment Emmanuel Macron.

Read More

Alternatives to Sustainability

Alternatives to Sustainability

When we consider sustainability, we must ask – sustain what and why? The meaning often depends on the system it supports. Currently, sustainability aims to sustain the natural environment to support the economy, prioritizing economic sustainment over environmental preservation. The economy needs growth to expand, exploiting more resources, which is problematic as it focuses on economic sustainmen

Read More

Macron Announces ‘Essential’ Increase in French Nuclear Warheads

Macron Announces ‘Essential’ Increase in French Nuclear Warheads

He emphasized the need for France to adopt “a forward deterrence” as the world becomes more threatening. This involves increasingly including European countries in France’s deterrent, starting with nuclear drills participation.
“This will eventually allow the deployment of our strategic air force elements to allied nations,” he mentioned, referring to the nuclear-capable Ra

Read More

The War That Was Inevitable, Yet Europe Barely Notices

The War That Was Inevitable, Yet Europe Barely Notices

Bashy Quraishy
Secretary General – European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion – Strasbourg
Thierry Valle
Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, CAP Freedom of Conscience
Over a century after the Durand Line was established by British imperial authorities, the contested border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has again erupted into conflict. The appear

Read More

Israel Expands Mideast Conflict with Strikes on Lebanon

Israel Expands Mideast Conflict with Strikes on Lebanon

Israel advised residents of several villages in southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate, citing actions by Hezbollah that compel a response from the Israeli Defense Forces. “For your safety, evacuate your homes immediately,” stated Israeli army spokesperson Ella Waweya on X.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam labeled the rocket fire as “irresponsible,” cautioning that it

Read More

Spanish City Named Europe’s Best Destination for 2026

Spanish City Named Europe’s Best Destination for 2026

The Spanish capital, Madrid, has been named the top destination in Europe for 2026 by European Best Destinations, known for its annual rankings of cities across the continent since 2009. After an initial assessment that considered factors like tourism growth and demand, 42 destinations were voted on by travelers to identify the top 20 places to visit next year.
“Madrid is a capital where heritage

Read More

Europe’s Delicate Balance on Iran

Europe’s Delicate Balance on Iran

Following a weekend of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran — including the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — Brussels is coordinating its diplomatic response. EU ambassadors gathered, foreign ministers held an online meeting, and Ursula von der Leyen contacted the Defense College. With rising tensions in the region, is Europe influencing events or simply reacting?
Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick V

Read More