Malou Park
Encyclopedia
Parc Malou or Park Malou (Dutch) is an urban park in Brussels
, Belgium
.
It is located in the Woluwe St Lambert commune of Brussels, to the east of the Woluwe Shopping Centre, in the valley of the Woluwe river. This park is the oldest and the biggest of the commune.
The park was established on the marshy, boggy field surrounding the banks of the Struybeek stream, which is a tributary of the Woluwe
river.
In 1774 the park featured 7 fish ponds, a small hunting lodge called "t'Speelgoet" and a small reservoir. The gardens of the Speelgoet castle were laid out in the early 17th century by the first knowns owners of the hunting lodge, a local family called Preud'homme.
In 1776 the local merchant and banker Lambert de Lamberts built his residence is the park which was to be later renamed after Jules Malou, the most famous of the residents. The successive owners of the château transformed the formal gardens to the present form of the park, a landscape largely covered by trees.
The commune acquired the park in 1951. The remains of previously large bogs or marshy areas could still be seen behind the Moulin de Lindekemale.
The approximate center of the park lies at 50°50′32"N 4°26′20"E.
The park overlooks the valley of the Woluwe river, which is a tributary of the large lake on the western side of the park.
The park covers some 8 hectares in total, including the last remaining pond, home to several ducks and swans.
There are four principal recreation areas within the park:
One of the most prominent features of the park is the Château Malou
, a neoclassic
castle built in 1776. In 1853 the building was occupied by the Belgian politician and statesmen Jules Malou
and both the château and the surrounding parkland bears his name.
On the northern side of the parc stands an enormous statue of a lion.
The Lindekemale watermill
(French: Le moulin de Lindekemale, Dutch: De Lindekemalemolen) is a 12th century structure at the north side of the park, currently operating as a restaurant.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
It is located in the Woluwe St Lambert commune of Brussels, to the east of the Woluwe Shopping Centre, in the valley of the Woluwe river. This park is the oldest and the biggest of the commune.
History
Woluwe
The Woluwe is a stream that goes through several municipalities in the southeast and east of Brussels and is a right tributary of the Senne/Zenne . The Kleine Maalbeek is a tributary of the Woluwe . Many ponds formed along the stream over time, among which the Mellaerts Ponds still exist...
river.
In 1774 the park featured 7 fish ponds, a small hunting lodge called "t'Speelgoet" and a small reservoir. The gardens of the Speelgoet castle were laid out in the early 17th century by the first knowns owners of the hunting lodge, a local family called Preud'homme.
In 1776 the local merchant and banker Lambert de Lamberts built his residence is the park which was to be later renamed after Jules Malou, the most famous of the residents. The successive owners of the château transformed the formal gardens to the present form of the park, a landscape largely covered by trees.
The commune acquired the park in 1951. The remains of previously large bogs or marshy areas could still be seen behind the Moulin de Lindekemale.
Situation
The park lies to the east of the Boulevard de la Woluwel (Dutch: Woluwedal), bordered from the north by the Avenue Debecker (Dutch: Debeckerlaan), from the south by the Chausse Stockel (Dutch: Stokkelse steenweg)and from the east by the Chemin du Struybeken (Dutch: Struybekenweg).The approximate center of the park lies at 50°50′32"N 4°26′20"E.
The park overlooks the valley of the Woluwe river, which is a tributary of the large lake on the western side of the park.
The park covers some 8 hectares in total, including the last remaining pond, home to several ducks and swans.
There are four principal recreation areas within the park:
- the walk along the banks of the brook and pond renovated in 2001;
- the area of relaxation and culture in and around the Château Malou, with its contemporary art exhibitions;
- the botanical area with vegetable groupings like the ash - alder trees, with ivy and ficaire and a marshy alder plantation with nettle and Reine of the meadows
- a playground to the east of the château featuring a pirate boat.
Prominent sights
Château Malou
The Château Malou is a neoclassical building in the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert in Brussels, Belgium.- History :The château was built in 1776 in the neoclassic style by a wealthy merchant called Lambert de Lamberts...
, a neoclassic
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
castle built in 1776. In 1853 the building was occupied by the Belgian politician and statesmen Jules Malou
Jules Malou
Jules Edouard Xavier Malou was a Belgian statesman, a leader of the clerical party.He was born at Ypres. He was a civil servant in the department of justice when he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies by his native constituency in 1841, and was for some time governor of the province of Antwerp...
and both the château and the surrounding parkland bears his name.
On the northern side of the parc stands an enormous statue of a lion.
The Lindekemale watermill
Moulin Lindekemale
The Lindekemale watermill is a 12th century watermill at the north side of the Park Malou in Brussels, Belgium, currently operating as a restaurant.- Situation :...
(French: Le moulin de Lindekemale, Dutch: De Lindekemalemolen) is a 12th century structure at the north side of the park, currently operating as a restaurant.