The best walks and hikes around Etterbeek

Opposite the Zavel church lies the Kleine Zavel square, one of the architectural gems of Brussels city center. In this neo-Renaissance style garden, there is also a group of sculptures by the greatest Belgian artists of the nineteenth century. In the 1880s, the mayor of Brussels, Charles Buls, proposed to embellish the district and transform the square into a seductively beautiful garden, which was opened to the public in 1890. The symmetrical flowerbeds lead to a raised fountain, whose circular water basin is dominated by the sculpture of the counts of Egmont and Hoorn. Behind it, two arched staircases lead to the Egmont Palace. The plantings have a symbolic function: the nine beds with pruned boxwood that frame the lawn represent the nine provinces that Belgium counted at the time. Another flowerbed in the shape of a crown symbolizes Belgium. Around the Kleine Zavel runs a very beautiful wrought-iron fence, consisting of panels with varied motifs and columns. Source: https://gardens.brussels/nl/groene-ruimten/kleine-zavelsquare

The present palace was created from several buildings at the end of the 18th century. It stands on the site of the old Koudenberg residence, which burned down in 1731. It is one of the most magnificent official buildings in the Belgian capital and a symbol of the constitutional monarchy. The interior is traditionally open to visitors from July until the beginning of September, following the national holiday on July 21.

The church was built between 1776 and 1787 by the architects Gilles-Barnabé Guimard and Louis Montoyer. Its style can be described as Neoclassical. In the 19th century, a dome and a bell tower were added, resulting in the church's present appearance.

The park is designed in the Flemish Neo-Renaissance style and laid out as an open-air museum with numerous statues and symbolic elements. The central feature is the monument in the park honoring Counts Egmont and Hoorn, who were beheaded in the 16th century for their resistance against Spanish rule. Also located here are: 48 guild statues, 10 humanist statues, and the adjacent Church of Notre-Dame du Sablon.

A monumental stone circle resembling a miniature version of Stonehenge. Located in a clearing in the woods near Duboislaan, this monument consists of eleven menhirs arranged in a circle around a large dolmen. Although it resembles an ancient megalithic monument, it is actually a memorial dating from 1920 for the forest rangers who died during the First World War. The stones are made of Wéris puddingstone, the same rock used in the prehistoric megaliths of that region. The monument was designed by artist Richard Viandier, who drew inspiration from Celtic burial rituals. This place symbolizes the forest rangers' connection to nature and therefore also has spiritual significance, similar to ancient Druid symbolism. The monument is a peaceful spot in the heart of the forest and also attracts visitors interested in history, nature, and mysticism.

National Automobile Museum.

Beautiful, it's a shame you can't visit it

The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Belgian King. Located in the heart of the city, the palace is a significant symbol of the Belgian monarchy and national identity. The palace not only serves as the official residence of the Belgian King and as a venue for royal ceremonies, receptions, and events, but is also open to visitors during the summer.