Bois de la Cambre

Ter Kamerenbos (Dutch) or Bois de la Cambre (French) is an urban public park on the edge of the Sonian Forest in Brussels, Belgium. It has an area of 1.23 square kilometres. The park lies in the south of Brussels-Capital Region, is comprised in the municipality of the City of Brussels and is linked to the rest of the municipality by the Avenue Louise, which was built at the same time the park was laid out, in 1861. It comprises a small lake with an island in the centre, called Robinson's island. [Recalling "The Swiss Family Robinson", first published in 1812.] It is considered by many as one of the finest parks in Brussels.

History

The park was laid out in 1861 by Edouard Keilig, a German architect. Queen Marie-Henriette, wife of King Leopold II, often went riding in the park.

In 1877, the "chalet Robinson" was built on the lake's island. The chalet was destroyed by a fire in 1991. The decision has been made in 2006 to rebuild it and it is scheduled to open to public again in summer 2008. The surface of the wooden building will approximately 300 sq meters, with a restaurant on the ground floor and a ballroom on the first floor. An electrical ferry boat will link the island to the shores of the lake.

The main road around the lake has been closed to traffic on Saturdays and Sundays since the 1990s.

ee also

*Abbey of La Cambre/Ter Kameren

Notes