Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis

Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis is a botanical garden and museum with greenhouse complexes housing tropical plants, cacti, and succulents in separate sections. The grounds span across several hectares with organized plant areas and indoor growing spaces.

The garden was founded in 1738 as a botanical institution for the Medical Faculty of the University of Leuven, making it Belgium's oldest botanical facility. Its creation was tied to academic training and continues to shape its purpose today.

The place invites visitors to learn about plants through its organized collections and display areas that reflect practical botanical knowledge. Walking through the different sections, you encounter plants arranged to show how people use and understand them.

The garden is open year-round with extended hours during warmer months and shorter hours in winter. Comfortable walking shoes are useful as you will spend time on paths and inside greenhouses, which can be humid and warm indoors.

The grounds house rare specimens like giant water lilies and an ancient breadfruit tree that grow in specialized greenhouses under controlled conditions. These historical plants have been cared for and maintained across generations.