6 facts about the Winter Garden of the Ursulines, the Art Nouveau gem near Mechelen

A man looks through binoculars in the Winter Garden of the Ursulines, a greenhouse with a stained-glass dome and plants.

Inneke Gebruers

The Winter Garden of the Ursulines is an enchanting place, a stone's throw from the Flemish city of Mechelen. This beautiful example of art nouveau once served as a girls' school with international allure. The Winter Garden is full of stories and secrets. Allow us to lift the veil just a bit. Did you know that…

... it is always spring in the Winter Garden?

Rain or shine, there is always a warm glow in the Winter Garden of the Ursulines. You only need to look up and you see the glorious dome of stained-glass windows. There, even the smallest beam of sunlight ignites a stunning display of light and colour. In those sumptuous windows, you can recognise various fauna and flora. In the garden itself, you are surrounded by ferns, plants and flowers. Curiously, in the Winter Garden, it seems as though it is never winter.

Experience the warm glow that fills the Winter Garden of the Ursulines in Mechelen through its impressive stained-glass dome.

Paul Jordens

... the Winter Garden is the largest publicly accessible art nouveau site in the country?

And that is saying something. This art and architecture movement brought a lot of beauty to the world, during the transition from the 19th to the 20th century. Belgium was a driving force in this, renowned names such as Victor Horta and Henry Van de Velde created a harmony between art and craftsmanship. The result: breathtaking interiors and decorations, often featuring stained glass, wrought ironwork, detailed mosaics and tiling. The Winter Garden of the Ursulines is a stunning example of that art nouveau. Nowhere in the country can you visit a bigger and more beautiful example of this.

A man walks through the Winter Garden of the Ursulines in Mechelen and admires the Art Nouveau style.

Inneke Gebruers

... the Winter Garden was part of a girls' school with an international reputation?

The Winter Garden was part of the Ursuline Institute, founded in 1841. It was a beacon of girls' education. Thanks to its green location, well-maintained buildings and outstanding educational offer, it became a school of international standing. Around 1900, almost a quarter of pupils came from outside the country. These were girls from Italy, Romania, Spain and Turkey, and even from Australia, Brazil and Panama. There, the Ursuline Sisters put the ideas of l'art à l'école (art at school, ed.) into practice. They made sure the whole environment was stimulating for the students. The goal: those who observe and read, learn.

Visitors explore the Alpine Room in the Winter Garden of the Ursulines. In this space filled with tables and chairs, girls received lessons. This girls' school in Mechelen gained significant international recognition from 1900 onwards.

Inneke Gebruers

... women called the shots here?

This institute and the Winter Garden bear the name Ursulines, after the sister order of the same name. They were the ones in charge here. These sisters decided to open a boarding school here, expand the building complex and create the Winter Garden. They secured an international reputation for the school. While moulding the students into strong women, the sisters set a good example. Women were the driving force here, at a time when that was by no means usual.

The front garden of the Winter Garden of the Ursulines in Mechelen, where the sisters established a boarding school in 1900.

Koen Van Damme

... the Winter Garden has been a protected monument for 40 years?

The winter garden is a special place. That is why this place has been protected as a monument since 1987; because of its historical, artistic and architectural value. That happened at a pivotal moment. Around that time, critical voices began to be heard. They sought to have this building complex demolished. But thanks to the official protection of the building, its side galleries with murals and its furnishings, it could no longer be demolished. Since 1994, non-profit organisation Wintertuin has been looking after this valuable heritage.

A woman admires the Winter Garden of the Ursulines in Mechelen, which has now been a protected monument for 40 years.

Stichting Kempens Landschap

... you can now enjoy this gem in its entirety?

All those stories and all that beauty you can now admire with your own eyes. After an extensive renovation, the Winter Garden welcomes you with open arms. A brand new experience trail leads you through the site. An audio guide takes you back to the heyday of this institution. Along the way, you are introduced to the daily life of boarding school girls at that time. Multimedia technologies reveal the history and architecture of this hidden heritage site.

Admire the Winter Garden of the Ursulines in Mechelen, covered by the magnificent stained-glass dome.

Practical information

You can visit this Art Nouveau gem in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, in the Mechelen region between Antwerp and Brussels. It can be found about ten kilometres from the historic centre of Mechelen, making it the ideal place to visit if you are spending a few days in Mechelen.
The site is easy to get to by bicycle, bus, train and car.

How to get to the Winter Garden?