Castle of Groenendaal

The Augustinian priory of Groenendaal was founded in 1343 by three canons from the Brussels Saint Gudula Church. Jan of Ruusbroec the Wonderful was one of them and became the first prior. The priory was dissolved twice, first in 1784 and again in 1795. After the first dissolution of the priory, the monastery square disappeared. The church was also partially demolished in 1787.

The Neoclassical priory building, which was only constructed in 1783 as a coach house and staff residence, was adapted for the benefit of the forestry administration and its director, the Austrian Joachim Zinner. In 1793, the fathers returned to their monastery. They took residence in the priory and promptly started the renovation of the halved church in classical style. A futile effort, as barely two years later the French dealt the priory a final blow. The church was turned into a service building and a stable. In the mid-19th century, a hotel-restaurant, the Château de Groenendael, was established in the priory. The extensions on the sides date back to 1929.

The former priory was protected as a monument in 1998. After a restoration of the building, the priory became one of the six gates providing access to the Sonian Forest in 2009. A cafeteria was set up in a wooden outbuilding behind the priory.

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