the Hallerbos ;
Is the most important and most extensive forest area between Zenne and Zoniën. The forest is a crowd pleaser thanks to the beautiful purple carpet of bluebells, which bloom around mid-April.
Seven Wells :
The Priory Zevenborren or Zevenbrons (French: Prieuré de Sept Fontaines) is a former Augustinian monastery (1389-1784) in Sint-Genesius-Rode in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It was located in a spring-rich valley area that was then still part of the Sonian Forest and in which ponds had formed.
Zevenborren originated as a hermitage founded by Gielis van Bredeycke, chaplain of the Anderlecht Saint Guidokerk. He retired to the forest with a few companions and could count on the support of the ecclesiastical and secular hierarchy (consecration of the chapel by the auxiliary bishop of Cambrai on April 11, 1388; donation of the land by Duchess Johanna van Brabant by deed of 4 Nov 1388).
There were two other convents in the Sonian Forest: the Priory Groenendaal and the Rood-Klooster. All three had adopted the rule of the canons of Saint-Victor, championed by Jan van Ruusbroec. In 1402 they formed a monastic congregation led by Groenendaal. In 1412 they joined the Congregation of Windesheim. the monks of Zevenborren supervised the monastery of the Canonesses Regular of Our Lady of Cluysen in Braine-l'Alleud (1399-1456). At the request of Jan van Huldenberg, Bredeycke founded a second priory in Bois-Seigneur-Isaac (1416). In 1554, the army of Emperor Charles V, led by Emanuel Filibert of Savoy, camped in nearby Sart-Moulin. The priory was not without major damage from this episode. The view of the priory is known from engravings by Hans Collaert (16th century) and the Chorographia Sacra Brabantiae (17th century). At the end of the 18th century, Zevenborren was in poor condition. The priory was one of the religious institutions that were abolished in 1784 by Emperor Joseph II (edict of March 17, 1783). The buildings were demolished, except for the abbey farm, the barn and part of the brewery.