When looking for a breath of fresh air without leaving Brussels, one name always comes to mind for savvy locals: Forêt de Soignes. And among its dozens of entrances, one stands out for its beauty and accessibility: the Rouge-Cloître site, in Auderghem.
A world heritage site 15 minutes from the Sablon
What many people don’t know is that since 2017, the ancient beech groves of the Forêt de Soignes have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, alongside fourteen other primary forests in Europe. This recognition is shared between Belgium, Germany, Ukraine and nine other countries—proof that our Brussels forest plays in the big leagues.
With its 4,380 hectares, of which about 1,650 are within the Brussels-Capital Region, it is quite simply the capital’s largest green space. And the most magical.
Why Rouge-Cloître?
The site owes its name to an abbey founded in 1366, whose restored buildings now house an art centre and a café-restaurant, ideal for a lunch break. All around it:
- Five ponds in a row, home to herons, coots and ducks
- A farm with donkeys and sheep that delights children
- Marked trails from 3 to 12 km suitable for all abilities
- A free car park with 200 spaces (a rarity in Brussels!)
- Direct access via tram 8 and bus 72
The ideal Sunday walk
Our recommended loop: the tour of the five ponds (3.5 km, 1 hr) starting from the abbey car park. It’s flat, shaded, and dotted with benches and wooden pontoons. Perfect with a pram, perfect for a grandmother, perfect for taking a breather.
For more experienced walkers, the Trois Tilleuls trail climbs towards the plateau and offers magnificent views over the canopy. Allow 2 hours for a round trip.
A green lung that Brussels defends
Bruxelles Environnement invests every year in the preservation of this unique forest: restoring ponds, combating invasive species, creating accessible trails, and building birdwatching observatories. All with 100% free access, 365 days a year.
This bank holiday Sunday, as the city centre comes alive, we suggest an alternative: a 15-minute tram ride, and the green cathedral will welcome you with open arms.
🔗 Verifiable sources & links
- 🏛️ [UNESCO — Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1133/)
- 🌳 Bruxelles Environnement — Forêt de Soignes
- 🐎 [Rouge-Cloître — Art centre and historic site](https://www.rouge-cloitre.be/)
- 📍 [Bruxelles Mobilité — Access to Forêt de Soignes](https://mobilite-mobiliteit.brussels/)
— Iris, for BXLpositive.news
