Home Parks
Category:

Parks

Couple arriving on bike at parc du Viaduc in Ixelles
Parks

Parc du Viaduc

by Vincent
written by Vincent

The Park du Viaduc is one of the lesser known green areas of Brussels. Hidden behind a street of the same name, it is very unlikely that you’ll meet here anyone else than residents of this Ixelles neighborhood. I am a big fan of these small lesser known parks where you can come and spend some quiet time reading a book or just relax under a peaceful apple tree. The place is always uncrowded, a little less on Wednesday afternoons when school is off or on holidays where you might encounter a few families with children investing the playground but even then there’s still plenty of room for everyone to coexist peacefully. Also a great place to enjoy a peaceful picnic with friends, just the right mix of shade, sun for everyone to enjoy on the well kept lawns . Park personnel are always present and do their little round and make sure that everyone respects the rules in a friendly and pleasant manner.

Parc du Viaduc is best for those who:

  • Are already in the neighborhood and are looking for a quiet and lesser known alternative
  • Those who love small parks
  • Those who don’t want to see too many people
  • Those who like to discover new places
Coupe relaxing on the lawn of parc du viaduc in Brussels
The place is usually always uncrowded
Parc du viaduc and Maison de la Solidarité in the back
Parc du viaduc and Maison de la Solidarité in the back
The pleasant little urban green space is well maintained
Man having a rest in parc du viaduc
At the entrance of Park of the Viaduct arriving with my bike
Path circling around parc du Viaduc
The path circling around the parc du Viaduc
kids playing in Park du viaduc Brussels
At the center of the park du Viaduc
Yellowed lawns by the hot sun at Parc du Viaduc
Laws near la maison de la solidarité
Path going all around the parc du Viaduc
A path circles all around the parc du Viaduc
Big green lawns of the quiet Parc du Viaduc
Big green lawns run through the quiet little Parc du Viaduc
Coupe relaxing on the lawns of the parc du viaduc
Coupe relaxing on the lawns of the parc du viaduc
Path circling around park du Viaduc
stone walkway across park du viaduc
Way out of the park
Toilets at Parc du viaduct in Brussels
Pilon vous souhaite un heureux caca 🙂
Entrance of the parc du viaduc by the walkway is just to the left
Entrance is on the left
Train tracks just right of the parc du viaduc
Train tracks run along down to Gare de la Chapelle where the EU institutions are
Grafiti art: Mèle toi de ton cul
Grafiti art: Mèle toi de ton cul outside of the park of the viaduct
0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Parks

Parc Félix Hap

by Vincent
written by Vincent

Some things just manage to keep a low profile and remain hidden little gems which surely could describe the Felix Hap park. Although located in a very urban part of Brussels and tucked away behind a wall, the Parc Félix Hap is one of the best kept secrets of Etterbeek. Considered by many the the most beautiful park of the commune it was originally a family mansion that was donated in 1988 to the public. The garden today retains it’s peacefull quiet quaint charm and is very inviting to visitors.

Photos of Parc Félix Hap in Etterbeek (location):

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Parks

Parc d’Egmont

by Vincent
written by Vincent

Le Parc d’Egmont (The Egmont Park) is composed of the formed-gardens of the Egmont palace which were modified several times between the XVI century and 1902, dates on which architect Galoppin laid it out as it is now. This park forms a pleasant little oasis of peace and tranquility in the heart of a very busy urban district.

Location of the Parc d’Egmont :


View Larger Map

Park in front of the Egmont Palace

The Palais d’Egmont dates from 1533-34

Commissioned by the Princess of Gavre, mother of Lamoral of Egmont

The Neo-classical orangery

And its popular outside terrace

People relaxing on a hot summer day

Road around the park

More sun bathing in the park

Peter Pan bronze by Sir George Frampton

bronze statue of Prince Louis-Eugene de Ligne by J. Cluysenaar

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Parks

Parc Leopold

by Vincent
written by Vincent

Parc Leopold

Park Leopold’s Main entrance on rue Belliard just beyond the Parliament buildings. Set on the edge of the new European Union infrastructures and following on from the Maelbeek Valley, which stretches from the woods at La Cambre and the lakes in Ixelles to square Marie-Louise, this public park is a haven of peace and tranquility in the midst of the bustle of the urban thoroughfare that is rue Belliard.

Location of Parc Leopold:


View Larger Map

Photos of Parc Leopold:

One end of the Park Leopold pond

The district is currently undergoing a total transformation as is obvious from the impressive number of tower cranes around.

The park was originally designed to be used as a zoo, hence the inscriptions visible on each side of the main entrance.

The park was opened in the middle of the 19C and given its current name to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Independence.

This pleasant, peaceful spot has a lake on which it is not unusual to see herons. The park lies on a steep slope and is overlooked by the rear facades of the two wings of the Museum des Sciences Naturelles.

From the other end of the pond

One of the many other species of birds

View across the pond

European Parliament buildings looming in the back

Georges Eastman dentistry institute in the back

3 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Parks

Botanique

by Vincent
written by Vincent

Le Botanique or the Former Botanical Garden

Since 1983, this complex hosts the Cultural Center of the French-speaking Community of Brussels and Wallonia. It was built in 1826-29 by T.-F Suys and P.-F. Gineste. The monumental structure is typical of XVIllth century orangeries: a central rotunda with a wing on each side, each ending on a pavilion.

The building was enlarged several times during the XIXth century. In 1939 most of the plant collections were transferred to the botanical garden at Meise. Truncated and mutilated after the works of the North-South junction, the former botanical garden was re-arranged according to the drawings of René Pechère.

Location of the Botanique:


View Larger Map

The botanical gardens lie in particularly pleasant surroundings and now host and organise a wide range of special events such as theatrical productions (in the great central rotunda), musical evenings (song, dance), cinema and temporary exhibitions. In September, the gardens play host to Les Nuits Botanique Festival, with numerous pop, rock and soul concerts.


Originally the gardens. which were partly laid out by Charles Henri Petersen, consisted of three terraces overlooking a lake, each in a different style.

way across the pound

The pond of the botanical gardens

They have since been altered slightly as a result of the construction of the Gare du Nord railway station.

the relocation of the plant collection in Meise, the damage caused during the war, and the building of an underpass which decreased the overall area by half.

The old botanical gardens building and its glasshouse

The back of the park

Few of the 52 sculptures that made up the ornamentation designed by Constantin Meunier and Charles van der Stappen, two brilliant late-19C artists, have survived to the present day.

Le laurier sculpture by Julien Dillens

l’olivier sculpture by Leon Mignon

Some of them can still be seen in front of the south façade of the building, including Spring (Hippolyte Le Roy). Summer (C Meunier), Autumn (C Meunier) and Winter (Pierre Braccke) flanking the central glasshouse.

Winter and Fall in the back

La Cigogne by Edmond Lefever

Spring at the forefront and summer in the back

A number of animal sculptures bear witness to the fashion for this new art form in the 1980s. In preparation for the 1958 World Fair. Rene Pechère was commissioned to turn the old gardens into a city centre park open to all.

Central glasshouse building

Finance tower seen in the back

It contains a few superb tree which are sure to delight those with a fondness for arboriculture or a nice spot to relax amongst the urban environment.

Maze of the Botanical gardens

The iris, the symbol of the Brussels-Capital City Region (“Region” because Belgium has been federal state since 17 February 1994), is given pride of place here and from Apri to June there are almost 40 different varieties to admire.

People relaxing on a hot summer day in the park

2 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts