CENTRAL AND EASTERN FLANDERS 165

Wood-panelled walls and paintings in the hall at Kasteel van Gaasbeek

the home of Count Egmont

(see p41). Some of the original

castle is still visible within the

current one. It stands in a

commanding position,

surrounded by beautiful

wooded parkland, which

includes a “museum garden”

in the 19th-century style.

Beyond the castle lies the

Pajottenland, an area of roll-

ing hills and farms, often

painted by Pieter Brueghel

the Elder in the 16th century.

extensive recreational park
with playgrounds, sports
facilities, a swimming pool,
mini-golf, rowing on the lake
and imaginative gardens that
include a garden for the blind.

Y Provinciedomein Huizingen

Torleylaan 100, Huizingen. Tel (02)

3830020. 
         

         Apr–Sep: 9am–8pm

         
         

         daily; Oct–Mar: 9am–sunset daily.
         & http://www.vlaamsbrabant.be

         
         

covered much of southern

Brabant. Today, it stretches

for 44 sq km (17 sq miles) and

is a popular place for walk-

ing, cycling and horse riding.

Splendid beech trees arch

over a network of pathways

like cathedrals, turning golden

in autumn. In fact, this was

formerly an oak forest, but

was ransacked by Napoleon

to build a fleet. Several mon-

asteries were founded here

in medieval times, but most

have vanished. Among those

that have survived are build-

ings of the Abbaye de Rouge-

Cloître at Auderghem, which

now house an arts centre

and restaurant. The beautiful

grounds of a 14th–18th-century

priory at Hoeilaart form the

Groenendaal Arboretum, with

more than 400 tree species.

The Geografisch Arboretum

at Tervuren, with 460 species,

also adjoins the forest.

The Forêt de Soignes, once a royal hunting ground and now a park

Kasteel van

Gaasbeek o

Kasteelstraat Gaasbeek; 8 km
(5 miles) NW of Beersel. Road
Map C2. Tel (02) 5310130. @

Apr–Nov: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun

(Jul–Aug: daily). & 8 0 =
http://www.kasteelvangaas beek.be

Essentially a Neo-Renaissance
and Neo-Gothic reconstruction,
the castle of Gaasbeek was
built on a grand scale and in
great detail by Marie, Marquise
Arconati Visconti (1840–1923).
She donated it to the Belgian
state in 1921. Tours led by
well-informed guides pass
through a series of luxurious
rooms, decorated in a way
that medieval nobles might
have enjoyed. To achieve this
effect, the Marquise amassed
a wealth of exquisite artifacts,
including medieval sculpture,
valuable paintings, antique
furniture and Brussels tapes-
tries. The castle also runs
tem porary exhibitions.
Gaasbeek is located on the site
of an ancient and important
13th-century fortress that was

Forêt de Soignes p

15 km (9 miles) E of Gaasbeek.

Road Map C2. @ 71, 72.

Q Demey, Hermann Debroux.

v 23, 90. http://www.sonianforest.be

An old ducal hunting forest,

the Sonian Forest (Forêt

de Soignes in French and

Zoniënwoud in Dutch) once