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Plan your visit

Visiting formulas

Welcome to the Winter Garden of the Ursuline Sisters! This page will tell you all about the different visiting formulas, tickets and rates. You will also find more information on how to access the site. Planning a visit to the Winter Garden? Be sure to book your ticket in advance online. Other questions? Then scroll down to ‘Useful to know’ at the bottom.

Experience trail

Set off on your own with an audio guide. The experience trail takes visitors back to the heyday of the Ursuline Institute in the early twentieth century. Along the way, travel back in time to the world of the sisters and their boarding school for girls. Interactive multimedia applications will allow you to discover the history and beautiful architecture of this unique place.

This listening tour takes you through the highlights of the heritage site and invites you to discover the Winter Garden and surrounding spaces at your own pace. You choose how long you want to listen, look and pause. 

Practical information

Who for?
Recommended for ages 12 and over

When?
Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 12:30 to 15:30

Language?
The audio guide is available in Dutch, French and English

Duration?
About 1 hrs

Rates (incl. audio device)

Standard
€13

Resident of Sint-Katelijne-Waver
€10

Children (ages 5 - 15)
€2

Guided group visit

The Winter Garden of the Ursulines is the ideal place to discover with a group of friends, colleagues or family members. Associations are also welcome. To ensure the time slot of your choice for your group, be sure to book a guided tour in good time. You will get to see the La Fontaine refectory, the church corridor and monastery church, the flower corridor and the unique piano gallery. These places are not included in the individual experience trail.

Practical information

Who for?
For groups of 15 and more. 

When?
Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00 and on Sunday mornings.

Language?
Guided group tours are available in Dutch, French, English. German, Spanish and Italian are only available on request.

Duration?
About 2 hrs

Rates (including guide)

Standard
€12 per person with a minimum purchase of 15 tickets.

There is an additional service charge of €60 per booking.

 

Walk-in tour

If you wish to take a guided tour but are not in a group, you can join a guided tour every Sunday as an individual or family. One of our expert guides will take you around the heritage site. With a guide, you will also visit the La Fontaine refectory, the monastery church and the unique piano gallery. These places are not included in the individual experience trail.

Practical information

For who?
Recommended for ages 12 and over

When?
Sundays only at 13:00 and 14:00.

Language?
The walk-in tours are available in Dutch (13:00) and English and French (14:00). We ask you to be present at the requested hour (12:45 or 13:45) so that the tour can start on time.

Duration?
About 2 hrs

Rates (incl. guide)

Standard
€15

Children (ages 5 - 15)
€2

Access

The Winter Garden is located in Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver, about ten kilometres from the centre of Mechelen. Find your way to the site here.

Useful to know​​​​​​​

Is something not quite clear? Please visit our frequently asked questions here.

The Winter Garden of the Ursulines will have its annual winter closure from 1 December 2024 to 28 February 2025. We look forward to welcoming you back from 1 March 2025.