The present park at Laken Castle was almost sold as a building plot early in the 19th century. It was the French Emperor Napoleon who prevented this in 1804, by buying the vast land. The original purchase document, signed by Napoleon himself, is to be auctioned, our colleagues of Bruzz report.
To be auctioned: the document that saved the royal grounds in Laken, signed by Napoleon in 1804
Michaël Torfs
Published:
The auction house Arenberg Auctions is to stage the auction tomorrow. The official starting price is 3,000 euros, but experts think it will fetch a much higher price. Arenberg Auctions is located in the Wolstraat and focuses on rare books and manuscripts, among others.
The original deed was made in Paris on 3 August 1804. Napoleon bought the land in Laken for 150,000 French francs. The castle and the adjacent park were sold after the French Revolution.
Real estate investors first eyed the castle in 1803. The wanted to demolish the castle and sell the building material. However, Napoleon had fallen in love with the premises and eventually prevented it from being sold to investors. He next started restauration works on the castle.
Napoleon was crowned Emperor in 1804. He also became interested in the surrounding meadows and woodlands, which totalled 20 hectares. This land was about to be divided in smaller building plots, as the legend goes, but Napoleon prevented this by buying the land, laying the foundations of the later Royal Park of Laken, with its castle and Royal Greenhouses.