Ixelles Ponds — Attraction in Ixelles - Elsene

The Maelbeek stream, which had its source not far from the monastic buildings of the Abbey of La Cambre, is now partially channelled and of the seven ponds that formed the stream, only the two large ponds we know today survive.

The first, which once covered present-day Place Flagey, was partially drained around 1860. The second was formed by the merging of the Pennebroeck and Ghévaert ponds. The engineer Victor Besme landscaped the whole neighbourhood in 1871 and created the picturesque setting that reflects the taste of the time for parks landscaped in the English style. Many tall trees, an aviary and a set of sculptures decorate this site which has been listed since 1976; it also has a large rockery with imitation rocks, ruins and a truncated column which serve as a backdrop for a waterfall that is unique in Brussels. The surrounds of the ponds are suitable for jogging, walking and relaxation, and also host a weekly market.

On the side of the ponds, another scenery : the houses, built in 1870-1880 in an eclectic style and red bricks were designed by Victor Besme. You can also discover houses in a Flemish neo-renaissance style, art nouveau and art deco, with, as main representative, the building of the National Broadcasting Institute on the...

En partant de la place Flagey,un quartier animé à la qualité architecturale indéniable,de style Art Nouveau et Art déco, les étangs d’Ixelles font partie des lieux de promenade réputés de la capitale. Après une déambulation urbaine les contours des étangs d’Ixelles,offrent une jolie promenade,dans un écrin de verdure,boisé et fleuri,dans un paysage dessiné au 19e siècle,par l’architecte paysagiste Edouard Keilig,qui leur a donné les courbes souples et douces. Au-delà des berges en moellon, s’étirent des pelouses ponctuées de vieux arbres dont certains, courbés par les ans et comme attirés par le miroir de l’eau, y plongent leurs branches avec grâce,qui sont autant de spots photos. Chaque étang a sa petite île plantée de saules, reposoir ou refuge pour les nombreux canards et oiseaux d’eau qui fréquentent les lieux. Des jets d’eau animent la surface et permettent...

This is a lovely, peaceful area where people come to unwind after work. Runners, dog-walkers, people sitting and reading and friends holding hands . It is seconds away from viby bars and restaurants, but feels like it is in the middle of nature. A truly lovely area to re-connect...