Kunstberg / Mont des Arts

The strictly organized Tuin van de Kunstberg overcomes the height difference within the city by means of generous stairways and offers a beautiful view of the Grand Square in the background. The castle of the Dukes of Brabant used to stand on the Mount of Arts. Leopold II rebuilt the area after the palace burned down. A garden was created, the National Library of Belgium and several museums, such as the Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts. At the bottom of the stairs there is an equestrian statue of Albert I. At the top of the garden is the fascist-looking Congress Palace (Palais des Congrès) built in 1955.

 

Mont des Arts

 

Léopold Park

The Léopold Park is located in the heart of the European Quarter of Brussels. In the north, the park borders the the European Parliament. In 1851, the park was designed as a zoological garden, where animals and plants were exhibited. Later, scientific institutes and a library were built. In 1880 the Leopoldpark was made accessible to the public. The "Leopold Park" is located on a slope, with a small lake, fed by the Maelbeek creek. In 2017 the House of European History was opened in the park.

 

Parc Léopold

 

Parc de Bruxelles

The "Parc de Bruxelles" is the largest green space in the center of Brussels, between the Parliament "Palais de la Nation" in the north and the "Palais Royal" in the south. The wide Allée in the middle of the park connects the two buildings. In the axis are two round pools.

 

Parc de Bruxelles

 

Jubilee Park

The Jubilee Park, also called Parc du Cinquantenaire, was created in 1880 to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Belgium. The 38-hectare park is on a slope that declines gently towards the city center. At the top is the Arch of Triumph of Brussels, which is framed by the Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire and the Musée Royal d'Armee. In the northwest corner of the park is the Islamic Center of Belgium and the Horta-Lambeaux Pavilion. In the south of the jubilee park there is a tower looking like a medieval tower. The Tour de Tournai is the work of the architect Henri Beyaert. It was also created for the 50th anniversary of independence. If you leave the park towards the city center, you will come to the EU's Berlaymont building.

 

Av. John F. Kennedy

 

Place du Petit Sablon

In the small but very beautiful park there is a monument to Egmont and Hoorne. The two nobles rebelled against the Spanish Inquisition and were beheaded in Brussels in 1568. This triggered the uprising against the Spaniards and led to the independence of the Netherlands. To the north of the garden is the Palais d'Egmont. Count Lamoral of Egmont also served as a model for Goethe's tragedy "Egmont". South of the garden is the church Notre Dame du Sablon. The Place du Petit Sablon garden is small, but impresses with its beautiful design that is reminiscent of baroque gardens.

 

Place du Petit Sablon

 

Map of garks and gardens in Brussels

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