The orchards of Chartreux are home to old varieties of fruit trees: living, edible heritage. You often see cows grazing between the fruit trees. The lands belonged for a long time to the sisters who lived in the walled site of Sint-Anna-ter-Woestijne. This only Carthusian monastery was built in 1348. The religious difficulties in the 16th century forced the sisters to create a safer haven in the Kartuizerinnenstraat in Bruges. A farm was run on the remains. The current farm dates from the years 1734-1755.
The monastery included extensive high-stem orchards, typical of that time. Unfortunately, only a few sad trees remained by the beginning of the 20th century. In 2004, the tide was turned. 170 fruit trees with over 70 apple varieties and 30 pear varieties were planted.
In this way, the orchard contributes to the preservation of almost extinct regional varieties. In the Chartreusinne orchard, eating and cooking apples were planted. Some pear varieties also grow on the edge. Species names such as cat heads, star apple, notary apple, ox head ... certainly appeal to the imagination.