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

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.

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.

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.