LEOPOLD PARK

Description

Essentials about Leopold Park in brief

Leopold Park is a small English landscape garden in the immediate vicinity of the European Quarter of Brussels, where most of the institutions of the European Union are located. So it is not surprising that the approximately six-hectare park enjoys great popularity as a recreational area, especially among employees of the EU institutions. The hilly park contains a number of old and exotic trees, as well as a lake that is home to many waterfowl. The park is also interesting from an architectural point of view, as it houses some former university buildings.

The history of Leopold Park

The history of this park began in 1851 when an animal park was established on the site. The park, laid out in the style of English gardens, was also used at that time for outdoor festivals and concerts. In 1877, the park was transferred to the city of Brussels and renamed “Leopold Park” on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Belgium’s independence.

In 1891, the so-called “Cité de la Science” (“City of Science”) was founded on the grounds of the park in cooperation between the city administration and the Free University of Brussels and the financial support of industrialists. It includes the buildings of the Institute of Sociology (Solvay Library), the Institute of Physiology, the Institute of Anatomy and the Institute of Dentistry, as well as the vocational school. These buildings also make the park an interesting architectural site. The most famous is the former Solvay Library, built in eclectic style and inaugurated in 1902. Today, the buildings on the park grounds are used by museums and the European Union.

The flora of Leopold Park

In the park there are several trees of great value including an impressive Oriental plane tree, the only one of its kind in Brussels. The pond and the banks of the Maelbeek are inhabited by herons, Egyptian geese, parakeets, moorhens and wild ducks. Due to its proximity to the European Quarter, the park is a popular place, especially among employees of EU institutions.