Alden Biesen - English garden
The English Garden of Alden Biesen is one of the few public English gardens in Belgium. Architect Ghislaine-Joseph Henry designed the garden in an 'English style' with winding lines typical of the time.
Project content
The English garden was thoroughly renovated. Drastic felling operations were carried out to rejuvenate the park, to free the existing monumental trees from competition and to allow more light. The still recognisable authentic elements have been preserved, protected and/or restored, such as the Minerva temple, the grotto, the Belvedere (tea pavilion) with ice cellar and the ruinous remains of the hermitage. The original river has been reconstructed as a 'dry' bed.
New interpretations were given a place
The eye-catcher here is the storytelling area with three stylised storytelling huts, a permanent picnic area and a new bridge over the 'river'. Young trees and shrubs have been planted, as has the orchard with old fruit varieties. Within the original form of the vegetable garden, a new eye-catcher has appeared, namely a prairie garden. This provides a floral spectacle from June to October. In the English garden, the historical path network has been preserved and improved as much as possible.
Integral accessibility
There was already a wheelchair-accessible path parallel to the moat, which was part of a larger walking circuit around the castle of Alden Biesen.
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