Sonian Forest

Statue of Ernest Solvay, inventor of the Solvay process and in later years important political figure who lived in a residence in Brussels/Woluwe. The monument consists of a marble statue of a thinking Solvay on a granite pedestal with the inscription "Ernest Solvay, 1832-1922, Stichter van het Nationaal Comité" (English: Founder of the National Committee).

Gate to the Ter Kameren Park, flanked by 2 pavillions in a neoclassical style. The pavillions can not be visited, but their monumental appeal is worth a look when entering the Ter Kameren Park from the city centre through the Louise Avenue.

In 1815, on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, English soldiers played a cricket match in this area, which has been called Pelouse des Anglais by the French ever since although only few are aware of its name. The British Ambassador in Belgium planted an oak tree and unveiled a bronze plaque to commemorate the 150th anniversary of this historical event in 1965.

The hippodrome is the largest in Brussels, and was 1.9 km long when it opened in 1880. With a width of 17 m, it was one of the largest hippodromes of its time in Belgium. It was constructed on the initiative of King Leopold II who was a fan of horse racing, a hobby he shared with much of the Brussels bourgeoisie. The king desired that a hippodrome be constructed in Brussels after the example of the hippodrome of Oostende, and proposed the current site in 1875 in the Belgian parliament. Construction was assigned to Edouard Keilig, who designed the Ter Kameren Park, and construction started 2 years later with the clear cut of an adequate portion of the Sonian Forest. At the same time, stands and viewing galleries for spectators where also constructed. The hippodrome was inaugurated in 1880 by the king, and horse races where organized regularly by the Society for the Promotion of Horse Races and the Development of Race Tracks in Belgium. It became a popular place of leisure, where ordinary citizens could view the races from the inner grass field, and the rich could show off the newest fashion on the elevated viewing galleries. Gambling on the outcome of the races was one of their preferred activities. Due to its popularity, the race track was expanded in 1907, and an additional section of the Sonian Forest was cut down to enlarge the race track. The buildings were renovated from 1942 until 1951 by architect Paul Brydel, who added a few modernist features to the architecture. After the Second World War, the popularity of horse racing declined sharply and with it, the frequency of horse racing diminished as well. Lack of maintenance caused the buildings to lose much of their appeal, and racing seized completely in 1987. The buildings were subsequently rented out to a restaurant and a disco, and the large grass field in the centre of the race track was converted into a golf course. After expiration of the rental contracts, the restaurants disappeared again, and much of the infrastructure decayed until the point that demolishing them was being considered. After protest of the local community, the Brussels government acquired the race track and its buildings and started a renovation in 2013, which was completed in 2016. The venue is now vacant, and awaiting a new purpose.

A monument consisting of 11 menhirs, dedicated to the foresters who gave their lives protecting the Sonian Forest during the First World War. The monument was designed by Richard Viandier who drew inspiration from Celtic funeral rituals. The stones are massive blocks of pudding stone, a natural mix of sand, quartz, silex, and cobblestones. They were excavated and shaped in a quarry at Wéris in the Belgian province Luxemburg. Inscribed on the smaller menhirs are the names of the 11 foresters, and their village of origin. The central menhir carries the inscription "Aux forestiers morts pour la patrie 1914-1918" ("To the foresters killed for the fatherland 1914-1918").

A tree called Chêne Liénard Eik ("Lienard Eik Oak"), dedicated to G. Lienard, a forest engineer at the Arboretum of Tervuren from 1955 to 1990. The legacy of Lienard includes the famous catalogue of 1986 which is still a reference for species registration in the arboretum today. It is one of the larger trees in the area, surrounded by beech trees up to 40 m high. In 2011, the tree had a girth of 3.26 m and a height of 35 m. For reference, this is about a third of the height of the Atomium!

With an area of 90,000 m² the largest archaeological site in the Sonian Forest, dating back 6,300 years which makes it one of the earliest preserved mid-neolithic sites in Belgium. Because the area has always been a forest, the site has been exceptionally well preserved. It was only discovered in 1888 when local children discovered spear and arrow points in silex very close to the surface. It took until the end of the First World War until the first excavations were started, and immediately indicated a valuable archaeological site. The finds included flint artifacts, knife points, pottery, and many other relics that pointed towards a neolithic civilization. It was only during the second series of excavations from 1969 to 1978 that the sheer size of the size was uncovered, as well as its function as a fortification dating back 6,300 - 5,500 years and are attributed to the Michelsberg civilization which originated in the German state Baden-Wurttemberg. Strangely enough, no living areas could be found within the fortifications. This civilization was known to craft tools from flint found in the mines of Spiennes, for which they were protected as . They engaged in agriculture (wheat, peas) and likely also kept pigs, goats and sheep for which they cleared a large section of the forest. For reasons unknown, the site was then abandoned, and gradually nature took over to restore it to a forest. The site remained untouched for thousands of years, preserving it. Today, the site is protected and preserved by keeping vegetation small (as tall trees would damage the remains when they fall over), but no plans for new excavations exist.

Located in the old priory at the edge of the Sonian Forest, the arts center explores the synergy between literature and fine arts with expositions of Belgian and international artists. Given the Belgian context, there is a particular attention to children's books and comics, aiming for the recognition of Belgian artists. It promotes contemporary art, hosting the competition Le Prix Découverte ("The Discovery Prize"), and collaborates with Europalia to exchange expertise.