English Garden of Alden Biesen

The English Garden, designed by architect Ghislain-Joseph Henry, was laid out in 1786-87 by order of Alden Biesen's last Grand Commander. The garden, laid out in the English style typical for that time, is one of the few examples in our country. Although the garden has evolved into a park forest shortly after its construction, and has become very wild in recent years, the characteristic elements of the English style can still be recognized today. In the garden, extended on the slope of the Winterberg, the artificial 'river' and hills, historic trees and shrubs, winding paths, water features and follies such as the Roman Minerva temple, a cave, ruin and hermitage can still be seen today.Source: teamvanmeer.be/portfolio/engelse-tuin-alden-biesen-bilzen

The 'neue Garten', as the English garden was called, was laid out on the slope of the Winterberg, south of the castle in 1786-87 by order of Franz Johann Nepomuk von Reischach, the last land commander of Alden Biesen (1784-1807). The then young architect Ghislain-Joseph Henry (1754-1820) provided the plans and was regularly on site for longer periods. In 1814 the garden was mentioned as jardin pittoresque très intéressant par ses plantations. The preserved plant list does indeed contain, in addition to a few panached species that were very popular with enthusiasts at the time, mainly Asian and introduced plants from North America. The dendrological interest of the land commander is evident in any case, which was not unusual for lords of the castle in the last decades of the 18th century. Publications on dendrology were very popular at the time, as the success of Baron de Poederlé's Manuel shows.Henry's creation was a garden in English style typical of his time, which had recently reached our regions. The garden of Reischach is one of the 18th-century examples of English gardens in our country, together with the garden of the Prince-Bishop of Liège Velbruck in Hex (Heks, Heers), that of Count de Borchgrave d'Altena in Bovelingen (Mechelen-Bovelingen, Heers), that of Count van der Noot in Duras, the garden of Joanna Artois in Wespelaar (Haacht) and that at the disappeared castle Zangerhei in Eigenbilzen (Bilzen) - the last four also designed by Henry - and a handful of other creations.Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Gardens and park of the Alden Biesen Commandery, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/303263

Although the garden evolved into a park forest shortly after its construction, and has become very overgrown in recent years, the characteristic elements of the English style can still be recognized today. In the garden, extended on the slope of the Winterberg, the artificial ‘river’ and hills, historical trees and shrubs, winding paths, water features and follies such as the Roman Minerva Temple, a cave, ruins and hermitage can still be read today.