Hanging Gardens of Thuin

The Hanging Gardens of Thuin are terraced garden plots arranged on a hillside with over 200 individual spaces growing vegetables, fruit trees, and flowering plants. The beds follow the natural slope and create a patchwork of different crops and greenery layered across multiple elevations.

The gardens gained official protection status in 1976 and were recognised as an exceptional heritage property of Wallonia in 2016. These designations acknowledge their longstanding importance to the agricultural and social history of the region.

The garden plots are tended by local people who use time-honoured growing methods to maintain continuity with the past. This hands-on knowledge passes between generations and shapes how the community relates to the land.

Access is available through three main entrances to the paths between the plots, with information signs explaining the plants and providing directions. Wear comfortable shoes, as the routes between terrace levels can be steep.

The stone walls between the plots absorb and retain heat, creating a special microclimate where Mediterranean plants thrive in this Belgian setting. This natural heat storage lets gardeners grow varieties that would normally struggle in this region.