On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Belgium will welcome an extraordinary project. With Edenya – The Living Sanctuary, Pairi Daiza will open the largest tropical greenhouse ever built in the world to the public. Under a monumental four-hectare glass roof, a whole new world comes to life: lush jungle, crystal-clear rivers, waterfalls, sun-drenched beaches, rare animals, and spectacular architecture. A totally immersive experience, designed as a sensory journey where every step reveals a different landscape.
Edenya, a unique tropical world under a giant glass roof
As soon as you enter, Edenya strikes you with its size and atmosphere. The air is warm, humid, and vibrant. Water flows freely between rivers, pools, and waterfalls, while the vegetation forms a dense and lively jungle. Here, nature is not just a backdrop: it envelops, breathes, and evolves.
In this tropical sanctuary, visitors encounter iconic and rare animals, such as the jaguar and the manatee, living in spaces designed to faithfully reproduce their natural ecosystems. Edenya doesn’t just show life: it showcases it in all its complexity.
Treasures of stones, minerals, and ancient civilizations
Edenya also tells the profound story of the Earth. Along the way, an exceptional collection of 435 ancient objects, minerals, and fossils reveals the geological and spiritual memory of Latin America.
Among these remarkable pieces, the stone statues of the San Agustín civilization establish a direct link with ancestral beliefs and knowledge. Crystals, carved rocks, and rare fossils invite visitors on a journey through time, where each stone seems to carry an ancient story.
Publicité
An exceptionally rich plant world
Edenya is above all a tribute to the plant kingdom. More than 5,000 cacti and euphorbias and nearly 1,800 plant species coexist under the glass roof, including the legendary coco de mer and two direct descendants of the Buddha tree.
The journey evolves gradually: the air changes, the light transforms, the colors shift. In the Dry Forest, suspended eight meters above the ground, green gives way to ochre and sand. Cacti, euphorbias, and thousand-year-old cycads form an arid landscape where life persists with beauty and patience.
Animals emerge from among the plants: lemurs, fennec foxes, fossas, and impressive Komodo dragons remind us of one obvious fact: in Edenya, humans are merely guests.
Under a 1,500 m² dome, Edenya is home to one of the largest butterfly habitats in Europe. Thousands of wings shimmering with cobalt, amber, and emerald hues flit freely, transforming the air into a living ballet.
Sometimes, one of them will delicately land on your hand. A moment suspended in time, fragile and unforgettable.
The suspended walkway
An aerial walkway plunges visitors into the heart of the tropical canopy, bringing them closer to the squirrel monkeys and red howler monkeys. From this suspended walkway, it is also possible to observe drills, Brazza’s monkeys, and pygmy hippopotamuses on a neighboring island.
The underwater caves
In an almost sacred silence, the underwater world reveals itself. Through vast glass walls, sharks, rays, sea turtles, and manatees move with hypnotic grace.
The architecture evokes an ancient sunken Mayan temple, frozen underwater. Soft lighting and mineral forms create a timeless atmosphere.
Publicité
Dining at the heart of Edenya: spectacular restaurants
The Abyss
The Abyss offers a unique experience in Europe: an underwater restaurant where you can dine surrounded by manatees, sharks, and tropical fish. The walls and tables, made of ammonite plates, tell the story of lost oceans and transform every dinner into a journey through time.
Sandy Beach
Brighter and more relaxed, Sandy Beach welcomes visitors in a friendly tropical atmosphere. Under tall palm trees, this self-service restaurant offers a gourmet break, with your feet almost in the sand.
Edenya is also a feat of sustainable engineering. Its 4-hectare glass roof, with glazing that is five times more insulating than a conventional greenhouse, naturally maintains a minimum temperature of 18 °C.
Thanks to intelligent hybrid ventilation, misting, and heat pumps, the site operates with remarkable energy efficiency. The 17,000 m³ of water circulates through an optimized system that includes rainwater recovery, storm basins, and automated watering.
100 % of the electricity comes from solar energy, which will eventually be supplemented by a geothermal project. More than 150 meters continuously monitor energy and water consumption, while safety is ensured by fire columns, smoke control systems, and sprinklers.
Publicité
Edenya, a sanctuary committed to conservation
Edenya also carries a powerful message. Several species symbolize this commitment to protecting life: the jaguar, the West Indian manatee, Parson’s chameleon, the loggerhead sea turtle, and the Komodo dragon. These animals remind us that the beauty that amazes us here is fighting for survival elsewhere.
Opening on February 7, 2026, Edenya is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious experiences ever offered in Belgium. At the crossroads of nature, art, science, and technology, this new world promises to leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Edenya is not just a place to visit: it is an experience to be lived. And it could well become one of the most impressive places in Europe.
Some links in this article are affiliate links. By using them, you help us continue to provide quality content at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
