The park was created by merging two large gardens, the domain of the De Groote villa and the property owned by Piers de Raveschoot. In 1793, architect J.B. Pisson built the De Groote villa in the Empire style. Around it, the owner created a beautiful pleasure garden with typical English landscaping elements, a pond and a Robinson-inspired island, lots of romantic winding paths and majestic trees.
The villa has been a protected monument since 1990. In this green oasis, visitors can today walk along winding paths, enjoy flowering plants such as roses, and admire the characteristic trees. Beneath the trees, the city allows the grass to grow to provide space for animals and plants, as part of adapted mowing management.
The Lousbergmarkt is a charming indoor fresh food market in an old Ghent textile factory, where craftsmanship and local flavours come together. You'll find everything from organic sourdough bread and Ghent cheeses to fresh local produce. It is the perfect place to stop and gather the ingredients for a real Ghent picnic: fill your basket with local delicacies and then head to the adjacent Koningin Astridpark.
