Leopold-Park
The Leopold Park is a park in Brussels in the valley of Maelbeek, on the border of the municipality of Etterbeek and at the foot of the European Parliament and of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
The place is a remnant of a medieval building. Today, hidden behind trees, since the 15th century is the Tower of Eggevoorde.
Geography
The Leopold Park is approximately 6.4 acres and is located in the south of the European district of Brussels, just east of the Espace Léopold. Its opening times are 7-21 clock from 1 October to 31 March and 6 to 22 clock from April 1 to September 30.
History
The history of this park began in 1851, was assigned to the from the area of the Société Royale d' Horticulture et de Zoologie d' Agrement, a zoo was made. The equipped in the style of English gardens park was used at that time for festivals and outdoor concerts. Even an ice rink, exotic animals, greenhouses and other curiosities were to admire there.
Alphonse Balat designed in 1854, the court architect of Leopold II, a small conservatory to accommodate a Victoria amazonica, a huge water plant of the Amazon rainforest.
1877, the Park of Brussels transmitted and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of independence in Leopold Park was renamed.
The collections of natural history were housed in the old monastery. The museum was expanded several times over the following years, then in 1905 a new wing was built to the Iguanodon, discovered in Bernissart accommodate.
1891 in cooperation between the city administration and the Université Libre de Bruxelles, was founded with the financial support of industrialists such as Ernest Solvay, the Cité de la Science. These include the building of the Institute of Sociology ( Solvay Library), the Institute of Physiology, Institute of Anatomy and Institute of Dentistry as well as the vocational school. These buildings make the park an interesting architectural site. The most famous is the built in eclectic style former Solvay Library, which was inaugurated in 1912 and equipped with art nouveau interior.
In 1919, the University moved to the campus Solbosch. 1930 moved into the Lycée Emile Jacqmain the former Institute of Physiology.
The other buildings are now used by museums or by the European Union.
In the park there are some trees of great value including an impressive Oriental plane tree, the only one of its kind in Brussels. The pond and the shores of Maelbeek are inhabited by wild ducks, herons, pond chickens, Nilgänsen and parakeets.
Gallery
Old Solvay Library
Former Trade School
Pond of the Leopold Park
Former Department of Physiology
Group photo of the 5th Solvay Congress of 1927
More
- House of European History at the Leopold Park