Many marshes once dotted the Brussels region, including the Ganshoren marsh, one of the last remnants of the wetlands of the Molenbeek valley. Over the centuries, many of these areas were drained to make way for farming. Today’s marsh covers nearly 13 hectares alongside the Brussels-Dendermonde railway line. This area of high biological value brings together plants and animals that make it a protected biotope for the conservation of this natural environment. Yellow iris, the symbol of the Brussels Region, meadowsweet, comfrey and ragged robin thrive here, alongside roe deer, foxes, great spotted woodpeckers, coots, sticklebacks, bats and marsh frogs, among others. The route also marks the 185th anniversary of Ganshoren, which became an independent municipality in March 1841.