{ The fine art of printing }

In 1555 Christoffel Plantin opened a printing establishment in Antwerp, Belgium called the Gilded Compass. 21 years later he moved into a building that now houses the Plantin Moretus Museum.

It is here that Plantin created one of the world’s leading printing and publishing houses and the reason why he became known as the most important printer of his era.

After Plantin’s death his son-in-law Jan Moretus took over the firm and today the museum houses the printing offices, workshop, library and printing room, all of which have been preserved in their original state.

This museum is a must see for all lovers of typography and printing. The museum houses an original Gütenberg Bible, the world’s two oldest printing presses, original typographical matrices by Garamond and the first printed Atlas. If this doesn’t get you weak at the knees – which it should, there are over 30 rooms filled with beautiful printing archives, artworks and printing equipment.

The museum also organises workshops on printing techniques and typography and seems to be very child friendly.

Photos by Design Loving and Iwona Marczak