Ursuline Winter Garden
Wintertuin Ursulinen

Hands down this is the prettiest place near Mechelen. The weird thing is no one knows who the Art Nouveau architect of this former nunnery and boarding school was

Go to this fantastic complex for an Art Nouveau treat. Art Nouveau is a style known for taking inspiration from nature and at the winter garden you can see it in full bloom. The winter garden is one part of an entire nunnery and school complex and located in the outskirts of Mechelen, in onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver.

The Ursuline Institute started in 1840, but didn’t get its gorgeous winter garden until the 1900s. This place is a real rarity. It’s not everyday you see a Catholic girls school in Art Nouveau. At the time, the style was considered progressive and not in fashion with the preferred Neo-Gothic. It’s too bad no one knows who the architect was, though. Still, we think they made a fantastic choice and you will too when you see it.

These days you can go for a guided tour (as long as you book ahead!) to see this super, super pretty winter garden. The guides on the tour are usually from the town and have tons of stories to tell you about the school. You might even get a former teacher as a guide. Not only is this place gorgeous, you’re also getting a personal touch to its history.

• The highlight here is the colorful stained glass cupola in the conservatory winter garden. The stained glass shows lots of plants that look fantastic when the sun comes through or when the chandelier is on
• How does Art Nouveau come into it? Well, it was popular to show the times of the day or the seasons in Art Nouveau (inspired by the Czech painter Alphonse Mucha). You’ll really see this in the conservatory glass where there’s a Morning, Day and Evening side
• Throughout the tour you’ll see some gorgeous spots. Ursuline Winter Garden isn’t the only pretty space here. Keep an eye for the staircase, piano gallery, and monastery church