Discover Brussels on tram 44, a combination of heritage and nature

The starting point of our walk, this cultural green space was created in 1880 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Belgium. It houses a series of buildings and cultural institutions such as the Royal Museums of Art and History, the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History and Autoworld. Do you prefer festive events? The park hosts several exciting and joyful events such as the start and finish of the 20 km of Brussels and the fireworks to celebrate the national holiday!

While passing in front of the Léopold II stop, take a look at the "aubette" (shelter) which allows passengers to wait for the tram sheltered from bad weather... it is the original one! It is rare enough to be mentioned...

A library opened by a book-loving private individual in a setting made exceptional by the architecture of the building... you have to admit that is not common! The original library was created by Michel Wittock, an industrialist and bibliophile, and has since become the Museum of Book Arts and Binding. A multi-faceted place – library, museum, bookbinding workshop, etc. –, within its walls are priceless copies dating from the 16^th century to the present day, including an original and incredibly valuable edition of the famous Encyclopédie by Diderot and d'Alembert.

Would you like to discover a park known to be a gathering place for large numbers of migratory birds? Woluwe Park comprises 70 ha of English-style nature, with vast lakes, valleys, a rock decoration, waterfalls, specimens of rare trees, and more. It's a highly romantic place. You could stroll for hours... or run around, or picnic on the tables provided or on one of the many vast plains. Children will have fun in the playground, while dogs will enjoy an off-lead area. With its alternating concrete roads and paths, and its relief offering beautiful views, it is certainly one of the most beautiful parks in Brussels, a real green lung on Avenue de Tervueren

Set back slightly from Avenue de Tervueren, Sources Park is a little more private, but that's the whole point of taking you there...! Former property of the extremely rich and famous Solvay family – see the nearby Château des Sources –, the park is recognised as a nature reserve, mainly thanks to the remarkable reed bed that has developed naturally in the lower part of the park. These reeds are home to fauna and flora that absolutely must be seen! They include amphibians, birds and irises. It is an amazing little park for a long or short break, on a bench or on a pontoon!

Are you a city rail fan? Take a break in this museum, which offers an impressive collection of vehicles that have been on the streets of the capital for over a century, going all the way back to horse-drawn vehicles! Do you want more mobility? The museum regularly organises outings for its most emblematic old vehicles, and you may be able to climb on board! And old buses will take you on an excursion between the museum and the Schuman roundabout via the Cinquantenaire, the European district, the Squares district... all aboard the tram!

If you fancy more nature in the city, you can continue this walk by strolling through this magnificent park, best known for its Etangs Mellaerts Brewery and its water-based activities on the lake. Both the restaurant and the canoeing have been there since the beginning; the site was the property of the Mellaerts family which worked in business.

Are you in the mood to play? In this park, you can fish, rent a boat or a pedal boat, enjoy the playground or improve your mini-golf skills. Families will feel completely at home!

A few hectares of remnants of the Woluwe and its marshes... Parmentier Park – named after the contractor who managed the huge construction site on Avenue de Tervueren – remains a rather pleasant green place for relaxation. You will come across a tennis club or a school, but most of the park is at the disposal of the non-profit association "Les Stations de Plein Air", which offers leisure activities to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Do you need some heat? Stay in the upper part of the park, which is well exposed to the sun. Are you looking for more privacy and coolness? The lower part offers the shade and coolness of the ponds, where fishing is allowed.

Parmentier Park is not fenced in and is freely accessible, with no opening hours, so enjoy!

Do you know the incredible Rouge-Cloître site? It is not that far from Avenue de Tervueren... with a little courage and good shoes, you can follow this path through the Sonian Forest – the Chemin des Chênes – which will take you there after approximately 1 km of walking. A small paradise on the edge of the city, this former Rouge-Cloître priory is now partly occupied by an art centre and draft horses! The site is surrounded by rare magic and visitors will find serenity and an atmosphere of yesteryear...

This concludes our tour of the sights along the route of tram 44... but wait, we can't leave you without mentioning the superb Tervueren estate, even if it is not on Brussels territory! The AfricaMuseum and its buildings – a former colonial propaganda tool – testify to a sensitive period in the country's history... but the park is sumptuous and reminds us of much more distant history!