Capuchin Monastery

Former monastery

We now go to group 39 (Japan) where we mainly see red and black pines from the island of Honshu, the largest island in Japan.

When we get to the end of the Hertendreef we cross the Kapucijnendreef and go down into the valley. At the stream we turn right and walk along the former pond of the Capuchin monastery. The monastery used to be a little further to the top left. After the death of her husband Albert of Austria in 1626, Isabelle of Spain, regent in the Southern Netherlands, ordered the establishment of a convent here and donated a piece of land for this purpose. Next to the monastery a vegetable garden and orchard were laid out, as well as a garden whose lanes formed an eight-way junction and the pattern can still be seen today. At the far end of the garden was a small building where Isabella secluded herself every year. During the French rule, the monastery was dissolved in 1796 and the buildings completely demolished. There are still a few cellar vaults to be found on the site, but for the rest there are few traces and everything has become forest again.

If we continue to follow the path, we will end up in the Royal Walk where we continue to the Hazenweg. Here we go back to the right and arrive in the Kaucijnendreef.

Rotary Club Overijse-Zoniën