PARK SOLVAY - LA HULPE

Very close to where I live is this park which belonged and was named after the grandfather of Count Ernest-John Solvay a rich buisiness man, passionate about the castle and its park, he transformed it  and gave it its current prestige and configuration. 

It was also he who undertook extensive landscaping of the park, the planting of exotic species,  and he donated it in 1968  to the State who opened it to the public. 

The castle, today used for marriages and meetings

Towards the farm which today is  a lovely restaurant and café where you can sit outside and overlook a part of the park

There is a rather big pond with lots of ducks and fat fishes (thanks to the many visitors)

Lots of apple trees are here too and at harvest time an apple festival is organized and you can pick up the apples for free.

This is my favorite terrace attached to the restaurant, where we often sit when the weather is nice, after a nice walk along the pond and through the woods..

The  farm and its inside court

From the entrance it is a long way to walk before arriving at the farm

On the other side of the park are the stables which today hosts horses used for autistic children.

 

It is a very pleasant park an during weekends when the weather allows, summer and winter it's packed with people coming from Brussels to catch a bit of fresh air !

You can read more about the park and Castle here in my Country & City blog

 

 

more participants here