Parc Josaphat – Josaphatpark

Whose whispers echo through these trees? We’re at Parc Josaphat, a place brimming with stories. Parc Josaphat isn’t just a park. It’s a 20-hectare tapestry woven with history, nature, and art. Originally, this was the Josaphat Valley, carved by a humble tributary of the Maelbeek. The stream, once called Roodenbeek, was nourished by springs, including the legendary Fontaine d’Amour. A pilgrim, returning from the Holy Land in 1574, saw a resemblance between this valley and the biblical Valley of Josaphat near Jerusalem. He commissioned a votive column on Heyligenberg hill, inviting reflection on this similarity. By the 19th century, this area had become a popular retreat. People enjoyed snacks and local brews like gueuze, kriek, or faro in converted farmhouses turned taverns. In 1901, Schaerbeek decided to create a park here, a process involving negotiations with 197 landowners. One, the Widow Martha, owned a significant portion. Unhappy with the offered price, she put her trees up for sale, intending for them to be cut down. King Leopold II, a champion of beautification, intervened, buying the trees but respecting their existence. Parc Josaphat opened in 1904, a mere four hectares. Over time, it grew to its current size, thanks to Edmond Galoppin’s landscape architecture and Gaston Bertrand’s engineering. The park gained amenities like a sports area in 1914 and a mini-golf course in 1954. Middelborch Castle, once a prominent feature, was demolished in 1910, later replaced by an archery range. Today, Parc Josaphat is a haven for sports and leisure. It’s home to archery clubs, a stadium, and even hosted a Bob Dylan concert in 1984, drawing a crowd of 20,000. As you stroll through Parc Josaphat, notice the sculptures. They depict poets like Émile Verhaeren and Albert Giraud, writers like Hubert Krains and Georges Eekhoud, and even the park’s creator, Edmond Galoppin. And remember the Widow Martha, whose stubbornness inadvertently contributed to this beautiful park’s creation.