Parks

Brussels is a green city with a great extent of parks and gardens. Once a hunting preserve of the dukes of Brabant, the Parc de Bruxelles (Brussels Park), rue Royale (Métro: Parc), between Parliament and the Royal Palace, was laid out in the 18th century as a landscaped garden. In 1830 Belgian patriots fought Dutch regular troops here during the War of Independence. Later it was a fashionable place to stroll and to meet friends. Although not very big, the park manages to contain everything from carefully trimmed borders to rough patches of trees and bushes, and has fine views along its main paths, which together with the fountain form the outline of Masonic symbols. In 2001 the park was closed for refurbishment and restored as close as possible to its 18th-century look. Diseased chestnut trees have been cut down and lime trees replaced with sturdier specimens; statues have been restored and cleaned; and the 1840s bandstand by Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer has been refurbished, and it now hosts regular summer concerts. The clean-up has diminished the various unwholesome nighttime activities in the park.

The garden of the Mont des Arts (Métro: Gare Centrale), in the heart of Brussels, has been given a face-lift (its second: In 1955 an ornamental garden from 1910 was replaced with one in a more modern style). This ornamental assemblage of trees, plants, and fountains, just a few blocks from Gare Centrale, now has a children's play area and new paths, benches, and access points.

The big public park called the Bois de la Cambre (tram: 23, 90, 93, or 94) begins at the top of avenue Louise in the southern section of Brussels. Its centerpiece is a small lake with an island in its center that can be reached by a neat little electrically operated pontoon. The park gets crowded on sunny weekends. A few busy roads with fast-moving traffic run through it, so be careful with children. Before the entrance to the park on avenue Louise is a kind of pre-park, in the tranquil grounds of the Abbaye de la Cambre (Abbey of la Cambre). Founded in 1201, the Cistercian abbey was heavily damaged during the religious wars of the 16th century, and was rebuilt in the 19th. The buildings now house a geographical institute.

Adjoining the Bois de la Cambre to the south, the Forêt de Soignes is no longer a park with playing areas and regularly mown grass, but a forest that stretches almost to Waterloo. This is a great place to escape the maddening crowds and fuming traffic of Brussels, particularly in the fall, when the colors are dazzling.

Parc du Cinquantenaire

Designed to celebrate the half centenary of Belgium's 1830 independence, the Cinquantenaire (Golden Jubilee) Park was a work in progress from the 1870s until well into the 20th century. Extensive gardens have at their heart a triumphal arch topped by a bronze four-horse chariot sculpture, representing Brabant Raising the National Flag, flanked by several fine museums.