Sauvagère Park

Sauvagère Park is a landscape public park in Uccle (Ukkel), in the Brussels-Capital Region, admired for its picturesque, English-garden-style layout and a small Greek temple hidden among the greenery.

How did the park come to be?

The land where the park now stands began as a private estate at the end of the 19th century. It once included a castle, which eventually fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1957. In its earliest form, the estate was far more modest than today's park — little more than the castle itself, a long approach avenue, and a handful of tree groupings. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the grounds started to take on the character of the park visitors see today.

Who designed the park, and in what style?

A turning point came around 1910, when landscape architect Jules Buyssens redesigned the grounds in the spirit of the picturesque English gardens that were highly fashionable at the time. Buyssens was one of the most influential Belgian landscape architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for skillfully blending natural terrain with ornamental features. The park was subsequently enlarged in 1910 and again in 1925, reaching the considerably larger footprint it retains today.

How did the park become public?

For decades the estate remained privately owned. That changed in 1964, when the municipality of Uccle acquired the land and transformed it into a park open to the public. Since then, Sauvagère has become one of the district's green retreats, popular with residents and walkers alike.

What can visitors see while walking through the park?

Entrances to the park can be found along Verrewinkellaan and Eikenboslaan, among others. A walk through its paths unfolds as a gradually revealed, picturesque route — passing an artificial pond, a rocky section of terrain shaped to evoke a natural outcrop, and a small Greek temple, one of the park's most recognizable features. The park also contains a restored cascade, which together with the pond forms the main focal point for anyone strolling through.

Why does the park matter today?

Sauvagère Park has been legally protected since 1997 for its historical and landscape value, and since 2015 it has formed part of the Natura 2000 network, underlining its ecological importance for the Brussels region. In recent years the park has also undergone restoration work, including renewal of the pond and cascade, helping it regain much of its former charm after decades of wear.

For visitors, Sauvagère offers a quiet escape from the bustle of the city, combining historical interest — a former aristocratic estate shaped by a noted landscape architect — with its present-day role as a green recreational space for the people of Uccle and travelers exploring the southern edge of Brussels.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Sauvagère Park located? The park is in the municipality of Uccle (Ukkel) in the Brussels-Capital Region, with entrances near Verrewinkellaan and Eikenboslaan.

Who designed the park? Its current picturesque layout was designed around 1910 by landscape architect Jules Buyssens.

What are the main things to see? The highlights are a small Greek temple, an artificial pond with a restored cascade, and rocky terrain features integrated into the landscape.

Is the park protected? Yes, it has been classified as a protected site since 1997 and has been part of the Natura 2000 network since 2015.