A fountain with 9 jets of water is at the centre of the garden. The stairs that lead to the garden are decorated with reliefs of Oscar Jespers, Charles Leplae and Rik Poot. The rows of trees lead towards the statue of King Albert I on his horse below. On the right, little fountains and a small playground for children. The garden is a link between the old town and the royal library Albert I, the Royal Museums of Fine art of Belgium, the royal Film library and the museum of Cinema (Cinematek), the memorial for King Baudouin…

“May you spend many years at Maredsous in the supreme comfort of soul that is given, to natures touched by grace, by faith in God’s infinite power and confidence in His goodness.”
— from a letter written by Albert I, King of the Belgians to his former tutor, General De Grunne, after the general retired to the Benedictine monastery at Maredsous, Belgium

At the base of the monumental staircase leading to the garden of the Mont des Arts (Kunstberg in Flemish) stands an equestrian bronze of Albert I, King of the Belgians from 1909 to 1934.

Designed by Alfred Courtens (1889-1967), it was unveiled in 1951. Mont des Arts is dedicated to the memory of Albert I, known as the “soldier king,” one of Belgium’s most popular monarchs.