Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis

Leuven, Belgium

The Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis is the oldest botanical garden of Belgium, dating from 1738. The botanical garden has always been linked with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. It first aim was to provide herbs for medical use. Later, the gardens became used for study purposes and they hosted an extensive collection of ornamental plants, cultivated plants that could possibly be used for economic purposes and rare plants. Despite the differentiating in use, in popular language the garden is still called the Dutch equivalent for 'herbgarden' (Kruidtuin).

Nowadays the Botanical Garden is maintained by the municipality of Leuven. In contrast with many other botanical gardens, this garden has free access and is used extensively by tourists and citizens alike. The garden functions sometimes as a place of exhibition for contemporary art.

References:

    Comments

    Your name


    Address

    Kapucijnenvoer 30, Leuven, Belgium
    See all sites in Leuven

    Details

    Founded: 1738
    Category:

    More Information

    en.wikipedia.org
    www.leuven.be

    Rating

    4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

    Interesting Sites Nearby


    Leuven Town Hall (0,8 km)
    St. Peter's Church (0,8 km)
    St. Michael's Church (0,8 km)
    Grand Béguinage (0,9 km)
    Saint Gertrude's Abbey Church (0,9 km)


    St. Nicholas Church (24 km)
    La Grand-Place (24 km)
    Brussels Town Hall (24 km)
    Antwerp City Hall (43,3 km)
    Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (23,7 km)
    Cathedral of Our Lady (43,1 km)
    Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg (23,5 km)
    Royal Palace of Brussels (23,4 km)
    Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon (23,8 km)

    User Reviews

    Tinku Thomas (2 years ago)
    It's a beautiful place to see in spring, relaxing place In summer.
    jane hermans (2 years ago)
    Beautiful, inside and out. Even the kids loved it.
    Réka Peace (2 years ago)
    The oldest botanical garden in Belgium and the most beautiful one i have so far visited in Europe. Jawdropping variety, plants and trails in great condition, arranged with care and real feel for details. Fishponds, streams, fountains and sculptures make it even more exceptional. A truly beautiful place for a lone stroll, reading or a date. The area is also worth a visit and the greenhouses are magical!
    Desislava Tosheva (2 years ago)
    My lovely place! Very good botanical garden! It was originally set up as a garden with rare species and spices for the needs of the University of Medicine. On the territory there is a greenhouse with exotic plants.
    Ekaterina Kovalenko (3 years ago)
    Very beautiful place for rest in calm environment. Must see for everyone. Kids would be exited by intersecting fishes and cactuses, adults will have just a pleasure to stay in such nice park.
    Powered by Google

    Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

    Most beautiful castles in Lithuania
    Photo from Flickr, copyright CONTROTONO

    Historic Site of the week

    Palazzo Colonna

    The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

    The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

    With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

    Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

    The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

    The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

    Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

    Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
    © 2021 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.