The castle’s park and vegetable garden
The castle’s park and vegetable garden
The castle is surrounded by a landscaped park, French rose garden, former vegetable garden and woodlands. These different areas have undergone many changes over the centuries. The origin of the park can be found at the rear of the castle with the "Tapis vert/green alley", which is the oldest perspective of the estate. It is oriented so as to coincide with the setting of the sun on the summer solstice.
The early 1800’s.
The view to the west was then opened up in the early 19th century. At this time the ponds below the estate were modified to create a cascade of three ponds. When the Orangery was built in 1830, the farm's courtyard was closed and the vegetable garden, which was in its extension, was moved to the south of the barn to form a walled complex of about two acres. A French garden was laid out on the site of the former vegetable garden.
The landscaped park was extended northwards at the end of the 19th century. Part of the wood was opened up to create a meadow with views of the surrounding countryside. The hornbeams planted at that time on either side of the path bordering the estate continued to grow to form the majestic hornbeam-lined alleyway we know today.
When the farm and orangery were converted into event spaces, part of the old vegetable garden was turned into a car park. The project is being developed to re-establish a vegetable garden in the remaining part and in the car park beds.
The landscaped park, the woods and the château's vegetable garden are currently being renovated in order to recover the various functions and atmospheres that these parts of the estate used to have.
These different parts of the estate require a different approach to their maintenance. Depending on their formal, landscape or natural appearance, they may require more or less intervention.
As of today...
Nowadays, we must also take into account the fact that it is no longer possible to have fifteen gardeners to take care of the gardens. It is therefore necessary to adapt the methods of maintaining these different areas and to accept that they cannot be managed with the same rigour as in the 18th and 19th centuries. The general philosophy is therefore to leave an important part to nature by avoiding the use of herbicides and pesticides (even organic ones) and in this way to help maintain the balance of invasive species.
Over the centuries, the forest has undergone several planting phases with different species (mainly ash, beech and poplar). The various felling operations carried out in recent decades and the increasingly difficult climatic conditions for beech trees will require a thoughtful reforestation plan for this part of the estate.
There are some very beautiful and remarkable trees in the park and around the castle, such
as the beautiful line of plane trees on either side of the drive, several pluri-centenary plane
trees in front of the Estate, bordered by an Indian chestnut tree. Within the estate, the front
courtyard has been planted with espalier lime trees. The park is home to a remarkable Atlas cedar and a majestic pedunculate oak, as well as clumps of imposing English yews.
Learn more
Visits to the park are regularly organised by the Cercle des Naturalises Belges "Entre Dendre et Senne".
The estate adheres to the principles of the Natagora Nature Network Charter.