Top 20 Natural Monuments in Brussels

A place to slow down, recharge your batteries and discover beautiful plants.

Preserving the diversity of life on Earth is crucial to the well-being of humanity worldwide. Thanks to the support of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972), natural sites around the world are given international recognition. This makes their protection a shared responsibility of the international community. World Heritage sites can therefore receive technical and financial support to address threats such as agricultural expansion, invasive species and poaching. The World Heritage Convention is one of the most successful international instruments for protecting the most special natural places on the planet, characterised by their natural beauty or exceptional biodiversity, ecosystems and geological values. The World Heritage Convention has given international recognition to some 3.5 million km² spread over more than 250 land and marine sites in over 100 countries. Although there are still some gaps in the World Heritage List, it currently protects a very valuable part of our natural heritage. To be included on the World Heritage List, a site must meet criteria such as outstanding natural phenomena, significant historical value, significant ecological and biological processes and important natural habitats. Since 2017, the best protected parts (integral forest reserves) of the Sonian Forest have been included as part of the World Heritage Site ‘Ancient and pristine beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe’. This transnational heritage consists of 94 sub-areas in 18 countries. Since the end of the last ice age, the European beech has spread from isolated regions in the Alps, Carpathians, Dinarides, the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees across a large part of the continent, a process that is still ongoing. The successful expansion across Europe is due to the beech’s adaptability and tolerance to different climatic, geographical and physical conditions. The World Heritage Committee has recognised this site for the exceptional evolution and impact of the beech ecosystem in Europe since the last ice age.

Conserving the diversity of life on Earth is crucial to global human well-being. With the support of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972), natural sites around the world are internationally recognized, making their protection a duty of the entire international community. The World Heritage List can therefore access technical and financial assistance to address threats such as agricultural encroachment, alien species and poaching. The World Heritage Convention is one of the most effective international instruments for protecting the most extraordinary natural places on the planet, characterized by their natural beauty or remarkable biodiversity, ecosystems and geological values. The Convention has granted international recognition to approximately 3,500,000 km², spread across more than 250 land and sea sites in over 100 countries. Although some gaps remain in the World Heritage List, it now protects an extremely valuable part of our natural heritage. To be inscribed on the World Heritage List, a site must present exceptional natural phenomena, represent the main states of the Earth's history, bear witness to significant ecological and biological processes and contain important natural habitats. Since 2017, the best-protected parts (strict forest reserves) of the Sonian Forest have been included in the World Heritage List "Primeval and Ancient Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe", consisting of 94 beech forests in 18 European countries. Since the end of the last ice age, the European beech has spread from a few isolated refuge areas in the Alps, the Carpathians, the Dinarides, the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, over a short period of a few thousand years, in a process that continues to this day. The successful expansion of the beech across an entire continent is linked to the tree's adaptability and tolerance to different climatic, geographical and physical conditions. The World Heritage Committee has recognised the site as a shared testimony to the exceptional evolution and impact of the beech ecosystem in Europe since the last ice age. Source: UNESCO

Conserving the diversity of life on Earth is critical to global human welfare. With the support of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention (1972), natural sites around the world benefit from international recognition, making their protection the duty of the international community as a whole. World Heritage properties may therefore access technical and financial assistance to deal with threats such as agricultural encroachment, invasive species and poaching. The World Heritage Convention is one of the most successful international instruments to protect the most extraordinary natural places on the planet, characterized by their natural beauty or outstanding biodiversity, ecosystem and geological values. The Convention has provided international recognition to around 3,500,000 km2 in over 250 terrestrial and marine sites across more than 100 countries, and while certain gaps in the World Heritage List remain, it currently protects an extremely valuable sample of our natural heritage. To be inscribed on the World Heritage List, a site must have values such as superlative natural phenomena; represent major states of earth’s history, demonstrate significant ecological and biological processes and contain important natural habitats. Since 2017, the best-protected parts (integral forest reserves) of the Sonian Forest are included as components of the World Heritage property ‘Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe’. This transnational property includes 94 component parts in 18 countries. Since the end of the last Ice Age, European Beech spread from a few isolated refuge areas in the Alps, Carpathians, Dinarides, Mediterranean and Pyrenees over a short period of a few thousand years in a process that is still ongoing. The successful expansion across a whole continent is related to the tree’s adaptability and tolerance of different climatic, geographical and physical conditions. The World Heritage Committee has recognised the site as a shared testimony to the exceptional evolution and impact of the beech ecosystem in Europe since the last Ice Age.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Belgium and at the same time as the World Exhibition, King Leopold II had the Jubilee Park (Parc du Cinquantenaire) built in 1880. The architect Gédéon Bordiau drew up the plans. The intention was to create a green area with pavilions for various exhibitions. The triumphal arch (arcade) connects two wings covering a total area of 30 hectares. Note the beautiful symmetry of the French and English-inspired gardens, the lawns and the wide avenues.

Today, the Botanical Garden is a city park wedged into the traffic network of the Brussels North District. All that remains of its original purpose as a botanical garden is the mix of styles (French, Italian and English) and the great variety of trees and plants. The park, which extends over 6 hectares and is laid out in terraces, was officially opened in 1829. The highest terrace, at the foot of the orangery, is geometric in shape, like the classic French gardens. The mezzanine is in the Italian style and includes a star-shaped rose garden and an iris garden where around forty varieties of iris bloom from April to June – the iris is the symbol of the Brussels-Capital Region. The lowest part slopes gently down to the pond, with winding paths. The lawns are dotted with trees around resting places. Source: https://gardens.brussels/nl/groene-ruimten/kruidtuin

Today, the Botanical Garden is a city park wedged into the traffic network of the Brussels North District. All that remains of its original purpose as a botanical garden is the mix of styles (French, Italian and English) and the great variety of trees and plants. The park, which extends over 6 hectares and is laid out in terraces, was officially opened in 1829. The highest terrace, at the foot of the orangery, is geometric in shape, like the classic French gardens. The mezzanine is in the Italian style and includes a star-shaped rose garden and an iris garden where around forty varieties of iris bloom from April to June – the iris is the symbol of the Brussels-Capital Region. The lowest part slopes gently down to the pond, with winding paths. The lawns are dotted with trees around resting places. Source: https://gardens.brussels/nl/groene-ruimten/kruidtuin

Fun thing is to try and run all paths in the park during one session. Not always only the outer ring which everyone runs