Le Pavillon des Chasseurs

Located in the heart of the Forêt Domaniale de Colfontaine, the Pavillon des Chasseurs (Hunters’ Pavilion) was built in 1855 by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar, who also designed the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert in Brussels (1847).

The pavilion was built at the request of Henri De Gorge (1774–1832), a wealthy French industrialist who owned the Grand-Hornu coal mine and acquired the Colfontaine forest in 1828.

Standing proudly in the middle of Colfontaine National Forest, the Hunters’ Pavilion was intended to host large banquets after the hunting parties arranged by Henri De Gorge, but he died before it was completed. His heirs took on the task of ensuring that the building was completed.

With its distinctive hexagonal shape and awnings that served as shelters for horse-drawn carriages, the building materials included stone, brick and wood, with a multicoloured tiled roof. The pavilion is reached by any one of a number of trails that run through the forest and meet in a star shape in the centre of a clearing.

The Pavilion was officially classed as a heritage site by the Walloon Region on 22 July 1981.

This iconic location is where the “La Ligue des Amis de la Forêt de Colfontaine” (The League of Friends of the Forest of Colfontaine) was founded to mark the 25th anniversary of the purchase of the Bois de Colfontaine by the Belgian Government. The League’s motto was “To make known, love and respect our beautiful forest”, and its members worked hard to improve the Bois de Colfontaine.

Forest management

The Forêt Domaniale de Colfontaine covers an area of 1927 acres, stretching across the municipalities of Colfontaine, Frameries and Dour. Acquired by the Belgian Government at the beginning of the 20th century, it is now the property of the Walloon Region and is managed by the Department of Nature and Forests. Forest management includes the protection of impressive biological diversity and its vital social function in the heart of the Borinage, while enhancing the economic quality of its woodlands and issuing hunting permits.

Forest flora and fauna

The forest is home to great natural diversity, thanks to the variety of its soils and subsoil, the presence of several watercourses and an irregular topography. Oak and ash are the dominant species. These are intermingled with beech, chestnut, maple and many other deciduous and coniferous trees. The rich diversity of habitats means the forest is home to many animal species, including various types of woodpeckers and kingfishers, among others. In spring, the undergrowth is transformed into a colourful carpet of daffodils, hyacinths and wood anemones. In autumn, an abundance of chestnuts and mushrooms ensure even the finest connoisseurs can take some home to enjoy.