Josaphat Park

Josaphat Park (Parc Josaphat; Josaphatpark) is a public park of 20 ha located in the municipality of Schaerbeek in Brussels, Belgium. The football stadium that was formerly used by the K.V.V. Crossing Elewijt lies on the north-western corner of the park. There is also an elementary school (Chazal school), a tennis club (R.T.C. Lambermont), the municipal greenhouses, animals (horses, donkeys, hen, ducks), two playgrounds, a minigolf course, an archery range, three cafés (La Laiterie, La Buvette Saint-Sebastiaan, and La Guinguette Populeir), a kiosk (Josaphine's), and some ponds.

The park is a remainder of the old Linthout forest that began at the Place Dailly/Daillyplein. It was designed by Edmond Galoppin of Melsbroek and inaugurated by King Leopold II on 6 June 1904. Its name comes from the resemblance between the valley of the Roodebeek (a tributary of the Maelbeek), where the park is located, and the Valley of Josaphat in the Holy Land, noted by a pilgrim back from Palestine in 1574. It was designated on 31 December 1974.

Sculptures
Josaphat Park contains a large collection of sculptures, including works by sculptors Jules Lagae, Victor Rousseau, Albert Desenfans, Joseph Van Hamme, Edmond Lefever, and Jean Lecroart.

Legend of the Minnebron


The Fontaine d'Amour or Minnebron, a spring in the Josaphat Valley, derives its name from a local legend. According to the story, a young noblewoman named Herlinde lived in a castle on a nearby hill. One evening, she met and fell in love with a knight named Theobald. They secretly met every day at the spring. When Theobald was called to war, he promised to return to Herlinde. Despite her hopes and nightly visits to the spring, Theobald never returned. Heartbroken, Herlinde eventually drowned herself in the spring. Nowadays, it is believed that if two lovers drink from the spring together, they will be united before the year's end.