Previously used as an inner courtyard, nowadays known as a beautiful garden in the heart of Antwerp. A space to fully unwind. Cosy up on a bench with a good book, stroll through the galleries, or wander along the flowerbeds. No ticket needed to enjoy the greenery – all you need to do is present yourself at the reception desk.
If Plantin were to walk through the garden today, he would undoubtedly recognise several plants. Until 1577, he housed his own garden in Berchem, and renowned botanists such as Rembert Dodoens, Carolus Clusius, and Mathias Lobelius were among his close friends.
When the garden was redone in 1992, the designer based it on a model from the same time period: symmetrical flowerbeds bordered by box hedges and gravel paths, filled with historical plants. Some family members still get to enjoy the view in the shape of sculpted figures on the garden walls.
It was not Plantin’s green thumb, but the renovation vision of Balthasar I Moretus that shaped the current garden. He adapted the older part of the house to make room for an inner courtyard where the horses and carriages of distinguished guests could enter. Customers, princes, and kings alike, along with other dignitaries, made their way through these doors.
It wasn’t until the end of the last century that the courtyard became a Flemish Renaissance garden. Horizontal lines, cross-shaped windows, and galleries all contribute to a majestic, yet intimate, atmosphere. The international elite simply loved visiting. For the printing family, this was the ideal place to do business or engage in “intellectual refinement”.
