Sonian Forest, Protected forest at the southeastern edge of Brussels, Belgium.
The Sonian Forest is an expansive woodland at the southeastern edge of Brussels, featuring old beech forests that stretch across multiple municipalities. The area offers walking paths, cycling routes, and horse riding trails that wind through different sections of the woodland.
The woodland originated as part of Silva Carbonaria during the Middle Ages, a forest that extended from Brussels toward Hainaut. Napoleon later ordered extensive oak removal for naval shipbuilding, which fundamentally altered the forest's composition.
Visitors walk and cycle through the woodland, where the towering beeches shape how people experience this natural space day to day. The trees have long been woven into local routines and memories of those who live nearby.
The woodland is easily reached from Brussels through multiple entry points for visitors arriving on foot, by bicycle, or on horseback. The area remains open year-round, with trails offering varying conditions depending on the season.
The woodland contains beech trees exceeding 200 years in age and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage designation for Primeval Beech Forests of Europe. This ancient forest community represents one of the few remaining examples in the region and holds international recognition for its natural history value.
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