Levin is a city in Belgium. Leuven, Belgium: location, history of foundation, attractions, photos and reviews. Main attractions. What to see

October 2012

Shortly before the trip, I had never even heard of the city of Leuven (as well as Dinan). And in the same way, one photo (this time of the city hall) was enough for me to realize that I definitely need to go here...

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Visitors to the city near the station are greeted by palm trees. Sometimes they even pour sand here and hold beach volleyball competitions.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Martelaren Square

Leuven, like many other Belgian cities, suffered greatly in the First World War. In 1925, the Peace Monument was erected.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Monument of Peace (Vredesmonument)

Leuven experienced no less destruction during the Second World War.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Brussels Street (Brusselsestraat)

This place was first mentioned in the annals of Vedast in 884 under the name Luvanium. Most likely, this name comes from the word “beloved”.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

The flag of Leuven resembles the Austrian one. According to legend, it appeared after a battle with the Vikings in 891 on the Dyle River. The battle was very bloody. The central white stripe represents Dil, and the side red stripes represent the bloody shores.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Margarethaplein

Now Leuven is the capital of Flemish Brabant. The population of the city is 97 thousand inhabitants.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Courthouse (Gerechtsgebouw)

Opposite the court there is a monument to one of the first mayors of Leuven - Pieter Cauterel (1320-73). Cauterel is a rather controversial historical figure, but still in 1936 they decided to erect a monument to him.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Pieter Couterel

Justus Lipsius (1547-1606) - Dutch humanist and expert in classical Latin. He studied at the University of Leuven and then taught history and law here. The building in which the Council of the European Union meets in Brussels bears his name.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Justus Lipsy (Justus Lipsius)

During our visit, one of the city's central squares, Ladeuseplein, was occupied by American tent attractions.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Ladeuzeplein

You could also meet Monroe here...

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Attraction

And Caribbean pirates.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Attraction

The dominant building of the square is the university library. The original structure was built in the 17th century. was burned by the Germans in August 1914. The library was restored in 1921-28. with the help of the Americans. The 87-meter tower has 48 bells (the number of the then US states).

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Now the library collection contains about 4 million books.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

University Library (Universiteitsbibliotheek)

We creep up to the city hall...

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Naamsestraat street

In my opinion, this is the most beautiful city hall in the world!

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Town Hall

The building was mainly built in 1439-69. in the Brabant late Gothic style.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Town Hall

And in 1849-1913. the walls were decorated with 236 sculptures. On the facade there are figures of scientists, artists, historical figures and rulers of the city, and on the towers there are statues from biblical scenes.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Town Hall

Nearby is another classic building - the Round Table. It was built in 1480-87, but was demolished in 1818. And only after the First World War the house was restored. In 2005, the building was bought by businessman Jan Callevaert for 6.4 million euros. It is expected that a hotel and restaurant will be opened here.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Round table (Tafelrond)

We found ourselves in Leuven during the reconstruction of Rector De Somer Square, where one of the symbols of the city, Fonske, stood. This fountain represents a student reading a textbook and pouring water (knowledge) into his head. The monument was presented to the city in 1975 by sculptor Jeff Claerhut for the 550th anniversary of the university. The full name of the fountain is “Source of Wisdom,” but some see it as a drunken student.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Square Rector De Somerplein

The main church of the city is the Church of St. Peter.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Construction of the Gothic building began at the beginning of the 15th century. and lasted for more than 200 years.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

St. Peter's Church (Sint-Pieterskerk)

The church surprised me with an automatic door - you don’t often see this in a church.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

St. Peter's Church (Sint-Pieterskerk)

In the southern part you can see a model of the proposed church. In 1505, there was a grandiose plan to build the tallest structure in the world - the main tower was supposed to reach 170 m. But not even a third of this height was built, and in 1541 they finally spat on this construction project of the century.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

St. Peter's Church (Sint-Pieterskerk)

Here is the tomb of Duke Henry I of Brabant.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

St. Peter's Church (Sint-Pieterskerk)

The artistic treasure of the church is the triptych "The Last Supper" by Dirk Bouts.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

St. Peter's Church (Sint-Pieterskerk)

The town hall and Peter's Church are located on the main square of the city - Grote Markt.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Great Market (Grote Markt)

Many people know that in Brussels, once every 2 years, a huge flower carpet is laid out on the Grand Place. So here there is exactly the same tradition.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Great Market (Grote Markt)

Leuven is a student city. The Catholic University of Leuven was founded back in 1425 under Pope Martin V. At first they taught Latin here, in the 19th century. there were 2 languages ​​of instruction - Latin and French, and since 1930 - French and Dutch. In 1968, a conflict began between the Walloons and the Flemings, and the university was actually divided into 2 parts - the Dutchophones remained in Leuven, and the Francophones moved to Louvain-la-Neuve.

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Great Market (Grote Markt)

Currently, about 40 thousand students study at the University of Leuven, the largest faculty is medicine (7,300 students).

// andreimos.livejournal.com

Naamsestraat street

In 1997, the honorary citizen of Leuven, Rene Despres, donated a statue of the student to the city. The monument was called the female equivalent of the name Rene. It seems to me that this composition looks even more like a prostitute than the existing monument to a representative of the oldest profession in Amsterdam.

After completing my studies at a Russian university, I decided to move to Belgium. During my entire life in this small country, I visited every corner of it, but one of the first and most memorable trips for me was a visit to the city of Leuven. The city is not very well known outside of Belgium, but for the Belgians it is a source of national pride. Imbued with a medieval spirit and at the same time keeping up with the times, ancient and at the same time youthful, this city is incredibly rich in contrasts. You rarely see anyone over thirty years of age on its cobbled streets, because the people who live here are mostly students. And yet, at every step you can feel the spirit of bygone times. Overall, if you are drawn to medieval romance and are looking for authentic Old World artifacts, you should definitely visit this atmospheric town.

And by the way, Leuven is an ideal starting point for exploring any part of Belgium: Brussels is just a stone's throw away, the North Sea coast is just 1.5 hours away by train.

How to get there

Getting to Leuven is no more difficult than getting to other European cities. Both buses and trains arrive here. The nearest airport is in Brussels and it is very close. Actually, in Belgium everything is close. This small country is incredibly convenient for traveling by any type of transport.

By plane

To reach Leuven by air, choose a flight to Brussels Airport or to Brussels Airport. The first accepts international flights from Moscow, and the other is used by domestic European air carriers (including low-cost airlines Ryanair and Wizz air).

Let's say you arrived on an Aeroflot or Brussels Airlines flight from Moscow to. Most likely, your flight time was 3 hours 35 minutes, and you paid about 190 EUR for round-trip tickets (prices can be viewed). After passport control and baggage claim, all you have to do is take the escalator down a couple of floors and take the train to Leuven. You can buy a ticket at the railway ticket office or from a special machine. Finding both will not be difficult. A trip on the fast IC train will take you a mere 13 minutes. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes. The ticket will cost 9 EUR one way. If you are under 26 years old, then do not forget to say so at the checkout and present your passport. In Belgium, young people have discounts on all types of travel tickets.

If your starting point is and you want to fly to Brussels without transfers, you will have to choose Brussels Airlines. Only this company provides direct flights between the two cities (though only once a week, on Wednesdays). The flight will take 3 hours. You can also choose a flight with transfers. In this case, the flight will take a little longer (minimum 12 hours). The transfer will have to be made in Moscow, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Zurich.

By train

Getting to Leuven by rail directly from Moscow or St. Petersburg is not a good idea. The best thing that lovers of the measured sound of wheels can choose is to take the Moscow-Paris train at the Belorussky station in Moscow and get off in Berlin. This section of the route will take you about a day. Ticket prices and schedules for the historical Moscow-Paris train can be found on the Russian Railways website.

From the German capital you can get to Leuven by domestic European trains, making several transfers (for example, in Cologne and Liege). The ticket price will be from 100 to 130 EUR, and you will have to spend about 7 hours. Thus, traveling from Russia by train to Leuven is a long and expensive undertaking. I would not advise you to choose such a difficult path.

If you are going to get to Leuven from any other European city, the train, on the contrary, can be an excellent choice. Railway connections between European countries are excellent. In most cases, you won't even notice that you've crossed the border. Ticket prices can be found on the website of any European railway carrier (STIB, DB, etc.).

From Leuven's main train station, the building of which you see in the picture above, getting to the city center is very easy. It’s best to do this on foot, because you only have to cover a kilometer of distance. If you are too lazy to walk, then wait for the bus. Almost all bus routes pass through the city center – the Grote Markt.

By bus

If you decide to get to Leuven by bus, you will still get there through the same one. Buses from major European cities run to Brussels from companies such as Eurolines or Flixbus. Ticket prices are very reasonable, because the main clients of the companies are students and immigrants.

You can travel from the Russian capital to Brussels by company bus Ecolines. It departs twice a week from the Shchelkovsky station in Moscow. A ticket costs about 140 EUR. Bus schedules and current prices can be viewed.

The most convenient way to get from the capital of the European Union to Leuven is by train. It will take no more than 20 minutes. Moreover, Ecolines buses arrive at Rue Cardinal Mercier, which is located in close proximity to Brussels main station.

By car

Traveling around Europe by car can be quite exciting. If you decide to get to Belgium from Moscow by your own vehicle, first take the Minka, which will take you to neighboring Belarus. From Belarus, head to Poland, passing one of the customs points (Berestovitsa, Warsaw Bridge or Domachevo). If you have access to the Internet on the road, look online in advance at which point has the shortest line.

After passing through customs, continue along European roads (roads E40, E411, E19, A12, A201, etc.). In addition to Belarus, you will have to cross the territory of Poland and Germany.

If you get to Leuven by car from St. Petersburg, the journey will take approximately the same time (at least several days). The price of gasoline in Europe today fluctuates around 1.4 EUR per liter. If your car consumes 8-10 l/100 km, then gasoline costs can be about 300 - 350 EUR.

Clue:

Leuven - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

What time to visit Leuven is entirely your choice. Tourists can be found in European cities at any time of the year. However, it is worth noting that in winter and autumn in Belgium it is quite dank and cold. You can only walk the streets for a long time if you are not at all afraid of bad weather. In summer in Leuven the temperature is much more comfortable and there are fewer students on the streets. No one will stop you from enjoying ancient architecture. On the other hand, it is the students who give this city its charm and their absence during the summer holidays is always perceived as strange.

Leuven in summer

As already mentioned, in summer Leuven is much more conducive to walking than in winter. In good weather, you can sit here on the terrace of some cozy cafe and leisurely sip delicious Belgian beer. You can visit one of the oldest Botanical Gardens in Europe. Or maybe you'll be lucky and catch a concert of some street band. In Belgium (and especially in student Leuven) they are extremely popular.

Leuven in autumn

Autumn in Leuven is a time of active student life. If you want to feel the real rhythm of this city, feel free to come here in the autumn months. But don't forget umbrellas and comfortable walking shoes. The average temperature ranges from 10 to 12 °C.

Leuven in spring

It is warming up in Europe much earlier than in our usual climate zone. So a trip to Leuven in the spring is also a great decision. The average temperature fluctuates around 10 °C. In May, the thermometer can rise to 12 °C and above.

Leuven in winter

Leuven is cold in winter. Of course, there is no snow, but the cold wind from the North Sea is doing its job. However, this does not mean that the winter months are a completely inappropriate time to visit this city. As in other European cities, a Christmas market is held here in December, and it is not inferior in splendor to the fairs in many capitals of the Old World. Average temperature in winter months: 2-4 °C.

Leuven - weather by month

Clue:

Leuven - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

The city of Leuven is divided into five districts (Everlee, Kessello, Leuven, Wigmaal, Wilsee).

• This is what the central district of Leuven is called - Leuven. It is surrounded by a ring road. This is where the main attractions, the vast majority of hotels and university buildings are located. If you don’t know that administratively Leuven consists of several more districts, you might think that this is where the city ends.
• IN Everlee there are several student campuses, the ancient Park Abbey, founded at the beginning of the 12th century, as well as an unusually beautiful Renaissance castle - Chateau d'Arenberg. This is a green and calm area, where you can also find quite decent housing.
• Near Kessel-Lo there are no hotels. But here, too, there is an ancient abbey. And also a large park de Bron.
• Area Vigmal very small. It occupies only 4 square kilometers of area. 3.5 thousand people live here. There is a nature conservation area where you can breathe fresh air.
• IN Wilsele Several beautiful old buildings have been preserved (the town hall and the Church of St. Agatha). From time immemorial, farmers have settled here. So this is also a green place.

Approximate housing prices in Leuven are presented below.

What are the prices for holidays?

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

Leuven has many architectural attractions. You don’t have to look for them specifically - go to the center and wander along the cobbled streets. Along the way you will come across a lot of beautiful buildings. Don’t forget about museums - Flanders carefully preserves many unique paintings by Flemish masters. There are also painting museums in Leuven.

Top 5

Grote Markt and Town Hall

In my personal opinion, the main square in Leuven is hardly inferior in beauty to Brussels' Grote Markt (or Grand Place). On it stands the town hall building, which is one of the most luxurious examples of Brabant Gothic. Amazing with its size (it doesn’t even fit into the lens!) and the splendor of its façade, it really deserves attention. You can look at its facade with your head up to the sky almost endlessly, because it is decorated with several hundred skillfully made statues. These are the heroes of biblical scripture, and the rulers of the city, and its outstanding figures.

Unfortunately, during the Second World War the building was seriously damaged, but Belgian craftsmen did everything to restore its original appearance. Today you will not notice that some parts of the town hall have been rebuilt. The building looks especially beautiful at night when illuminated.

Grand Beguinage

The Grand Beguinage is often ranked second among the attractions of Leuven. Whether this is justified or not is up to you to decide. However, in my opinion this place will only be really interesting to those who are interested in history. In the Grande Beguinage you will not find any mind-blowing architectural excesses. This is just a small, quiet area of ​​about a hundred houses where beguines lived in the 13th century - women whose ascetic life was close to a monastic one. However, Leuven's Beguinage is listed as a UNESCO heritage site.

People still live in some houses here. The atmosphere is incredibly calming. Taking a walk here after visiting the bustling center is a pleasure.

Monument to Fonske

St. Peter's Church

It is located right on the main square and from the main entrance looks incredibly like the Church of St. Quintin. The same high Gothic vaults and patterned windows, a similar bell tower. The main difference that immediately catches your eye is the two unfinished towers (allegedly during construction it was discovered that the ground would not support their weight). Moreover, the bell tower of the church is even included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.

Inside the church is the tomb of Henry I (first Duke of Brabant), a fearless warrior and participant in the Crusades. In addition, here you can see paintings and sculptures from both the Gothic and Baroque periods. Among the pearls of the church is a triptych by Dirk Bouts, one of the most famous Dutch masters of the Renaissance. True, to see it, you will have to buy a separate ticket to the treasury (provided that you do not already have a ticket to the M. Museum, with which you can visit the treasury for free). If you just want to admire the interior interiors, then you don’t need to pay anything.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

The short list of Leuven museums consists of just a few items. Apparently, students don’t really like spending their free time in museums!

Museum M

In the very center of the city there is an avant-garde building in the form of a huge white cube. This is the central museum of the city, succinctly called “Museum M”. From its appearance, one would think that only works of modern art are stored here. However, it is not. In addition to modern exhibits, in the halls you will find ancient sculptures and rare examples of Flemish painting. In my opinion, this is a good opportunity to get acquainted with the history and culture of the city.

A ticket giving access to the entire collection costs 13 EUR. If you are under 25 years old, you will be asked to pay only 5 EUR. At the time of writing, the museum is closed, but from the beginning of June 2017 it will open its doors to visitors again. Museum opening hours: Mon. from 10:00 to 16:30, Tue. from 10:00 to 16:30, Wed.-closed, Thu., Fri., Sat., Sun. from 10:00 to 16:30.

Spoelberchmuseum

A very small museum that displays the personal collection of Karl-Viktor Spoelberch, a Belgian scientist, collector and literary critic. The art collection was donated to the university after the death of the owner. Among the exhibits are family portraits, furniture and silver from the 17th-18th centuries. Tourists may be lured here by the fact that admission to the museum is absolutely free. It is located at Naamsestraat 40. Unfortunately, it is open only on Saturdays from 14:00 to 17:00.

National Scoutsmuseum

The National Museum of the Scouts, a kind of Belgian pioneer, was opened in 1982. Here you can see how this movement began and how it turned into a common national passion. The museum displays displays of old uniforms, badges, flags, photographs and other artifacts. In my opinion, the collection is not without interest. Scouts are a really widespread phenomenon in Belgium. It is not uncommon to see on the street a group of children in short shorts and ties around their necks, who, following their leader in orderly ranks, go to spend the night with tents somewhere in the forest. Doesn't remind you of anything? Exactly. That's why it's not uninteresting.

The museum is located at Sint-Geertruiabdij 5. The museum is open on Saturdays from 14:00 to 18:00.

Parks

Botanical Garden (Kruidtuin)

The main park of the city of Leuven is the Botanical Garden. Small but rich in rare plants, this garden is a favorite vacation spot for local residents. Medicinal herbs were once grown here for local medical students. And today it’s just a great place for a walk. Plus, it's free. The garden can be found at Kapucijnenvoer 30.

St. Donatuspark (Sint-Donatuspark)

Not far from the university library there is another pleasant and well-kept park, laid out in the English style. In the summer, students lie on the spacious lawns with books, and families with children set up sun umbrellas and have picnics. The highlight of this park is the remains of an ancient city wall that once protected the city from unwanted visitors. It is located on Tiensestraat street.

Dylepark

Located next to the Grand Beguinage. This is a very small park. But in terms of comfort it is not inferior to its competitors. There are also ponds, benches and lawns here. If you are looking for a place to relax after a long walk in Beguinage, then this park is perfect.

Tourist streets

The main attractions, shops, cafes and restaurants in Leuven are concentrated not on the streets, but on the squares. This is the already mentioned Grote Markt, as well as the Oude Markt (Old Market).

Grote Markt

As I already said, the central Town Hall is located here (the most beautiful building in the city, and perhaps in all of Belgium), as well as the Church of the Saint and the houses of various Belgian guilds. The square has existed in its current form since the 14th century. Like the main square in Brussels, the Leuven Grote Markt is periodically decorated with a huge carpet of flowers, and it is truly an amazing sight. In addition, during the summer months, concerts are held here, open dance floors are set up, and gastronomic markets are set up.

If you are unlucky and all these events pass you by, do not be discouraged. There is always something to keep yourself busy at the Grote Markt, as many beer and souvenir shops await visitors at any time of the year.

Oude Markt (Old Market)

Leuven's second most important square is surrounded by neat red brick houses. The most important building here is the library, which I already mentioned. In good weather, the square is filled with tables, where locals and visitors enjoy drinking the famous Belgian beer. Don't deny yourself the pleasure and be sure to have a glass here.

What to see in 1 day

Seeing Leuven in one day is not a difficult task, because it is a small town. The main attractions can be seen even in a few hours. Here is a short route for those in a hurry.

• From the main station, head to the city's main museum. The best way to do this is along Bondgenotelaan street. This is a large wide street where you will meet banks, restaurants, shops and cinemas along the way. If you have more than a couple of hours, stop by the M Museum along the way. To do this, turn onto Jan Stasstraat.
• If you're short on time, keep going straight and you'll end up right in the main square of the city. See the Town Hall, the monument to drinking or studying students, the Church of St. After going around the Grote Markt in a circle, go out to the adjacent Oude Markt. Here I advise you to take a short break and “hang out” for a while in some cafe.
• Then head along Minderboedersstraat towards the Botanical Garden. By the way, along the way you will come across a rather beautiful massive red brick building - this is the Anglican Church of St. Mary and St. Martha.
• After walking through the Botanical Garden, move south along Kapucijnenvoer Street - to the Grand Beguinage (the lowest point on the map). Turn left onto Janseniusstraat, then right onto Redingenhof, then right again onto Redingenstraat. Once you reach the river, turn left and you will find yourself in front of the historical quarter of the Grand Beguinage.
• After visiting the Beguinage, you can slowly head back to the station. Along the way, you can take a break from a long walk in St. Donatius Park, and also stop by the STUK contemporary art center, located at Naamsestraat 96. This way you will get a completely complete picture of the city.

What to see in the area

When asked what to see in the vicinity of Leuven, you can safely answer: “All of Belgium!” The capital of Belgium is only 30 kilometers from here. A beautiful city is located 66 kilometers from Leuven. The distance to Ghent and Mons is also less than 100 kilometers. You can read about these cities in separate articles, so I’d better tell you about those attractions of Leuven that are administratively located within the city, but where tourists rarely get to.

Brewery Stella Artois

Outside Leuven's main ring road lies the famous Stella Artois brewery. Getting here is not easy - tickets must be purchased in advance at the tourist information office (Naamsestraat 3) or. There are no cash registers in the brewery itself. The entrance is also not easy to find. Tours are strictly in groups every Saturday and Sunday at 13:00 (in Flemish) and at 15:00 (in English). But I’m sure nothing will stop real beer lovers. The brewery is located at Vaartstraat 94. Tickets cost 8.5 EUR.

Arenberg Castle

Formally, it is located in the city of Leuven, but it is quite far from the center to get here. The castle was built in the late Gothic style. It once belonged to one of the Belgian ducal houses, and today it is the property of the university. It's hard to believe, but the castle building housed several faculties. Almost a real Hogwarts! Unfortunately, only selected students can enjoy the interiors of the educational institution. Everyone else can only envy. The castle is located at Kasteelpark Arenberg 1.

Food. What to try

In Leuven, it is worth trying traditional Belgian dishes (Waterzooi, Carbonade Flamande, Filet Américan...), as well as chocolate, waffles, beer and frites.

If you find yourself in Leuven from August to March, be sure to try the mussels. This period is considered the best for tasting them, as numerous signs on the doors of restaurants will notify you about.

The cheapest and most delicious restaurants in Leuven are not difficult to find - they are located on Oude Mark Square. This is where most of the students dine, and local eateries compete fiercely with each other in an attempt not to disappoint them.

More expensive restaurants are located near the Town Hall building on the main square of the city. They are more likely aimed at tourists, but this does not mean that the cuisine here is not tasty.

For those looking for variety, Muntstraat has many surprises in store. In addition to restaurants serving classic Belgian cuisine, you can also find Mexican, Italian, Vietnamese, Japanese and even Chinese cuisine.

Budget

• Traiteur Kapucijn– a great inexpensive place that sells fresh baguettes with various fillings. Prices are very affordable (from 2 to 5 EUR). This establishment is located in close proximity to the Botanical Garden (Kruidtuin). You can take a baguette with you and dine on a bench.
• Another tasty and cheap place is Kiekekot(Mechelsestraat 46). Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00. Owned by Kurds. There's always fresh, spiced fried chicken and great beer. (5 EUR – half a chicken, 9 EUR – whole chicken).

Mid-level

• An excellent restaurant serving Sicilian cuisine is located at Tiensestraat 123. It is called Etna Trattoria. It is owned by a married couple who are incredibly passionate about their business. I highly recommend visiting.
• There is a good Asian restaurant on Muntstraat 10B Taj Mahal. Perfect for vegetarians.
• I invite lovers of everything Italian to Rossi on Standonckstraat 2. The menu may not seem too sophisticated, but after all, what do we expect from Italian cuisine if not quality pasta and pizza?

Expensive

• Unusual Nepali restaurant Nepali House Restaurant located at Dirk Boutslaan 7. Exquisite cuisine, incredibly polite staff. At the same time, the prices are quite moderate, considering that we are talking about a gourmet restaurant.
• But the most famous fashionable restaurant in Leuven is called Arenberg. Located at Kapeldreef 46. It has excellent service and consistently delicious food.
• You can also visit Zarza, Couvert Couvert, Zappaz.

Holidays

The main events take place in the city in the summer. This is due to the fact that in the summer students go on vacation and the noisy streets of the city become empty. Accordingly, the authorities are doing everything to attract as many people as possible to the city in the summer.

• At the end of July, a music festival takes place very close to Leuven Rock Werchter– one of the largest in the world! It usually takes place at three venues and attracts up to one hundred thousand people. In different years, such celebrities as Madonna, Leni Kravitz or Muse played at the festival.
• The festival takes place on August 15 Marktrock, which brings together mainly European stars and is slightly smaller in scope.

Safety. What to watch out for

Leuven is a safe and clean city. The crime rate here is very low. The city center is quite safe even at night. Of course, this does not mean that you can neglect basic safety rules.

• I do not advise you to walk through city parks at night (tipsy students are the same public).
• Be sure to keep an eye on your personal belongings - pickpocketing happens everywhere. In cafes and restaurants, do not leave outerwear unattended, or at least take everything out of your pockets.
• If you rent a bicycle, secure it securely with a lock. Bicycle theft is almost the first crime in prosperous European countries.

The central police station is located on the main square of the city, next to the Town Hall. You can easily go there if any problems arise. It is quite difficult to catch a policeman on the street; they usually patrol the streets dressed in civilian clothes.

Try to avoid areas Sint-Maartensdal And De Bruul. Some places in the Kessel Lo area should not be visited at night (namely Casablanca And Vredespleintje).

By the way, about bicycles. Please note that in Belgium, traffic violations are punished quite severely, even when they are committed on two wheels.

Things to do

You definitely won't be bored in Leuven. In student cities, life is always in full swing and Leuven is no exception in this sense. Of course, you can devote all your time to visiting architectural monuments. But I advise you to take a deeper dive into the everyday life of Leuven. To do this, head to the bars and pubs where Leuven students spend all their free time. The best addresses can be found below.

Shopping and shops

Shopping in Leuven is easy. Most shops are located on the streets leading from the railway station to the city center (for example, Bondgenotenlaan) Usually shops close around 18:00. Some are open until 20:00. Supermarkets are usually open until 20:00 from Mon. on Thursday and until 9:00 pm on Friday.

• The main shopping street in the city is called Diestsestraat. Recently it was made completely pedestrian. There are two main shopping centers here. In one of them you will find a cinema (Kinepolis), where you can watch films both in Flemish and in the original.
• Small private shops can be found on the streets Brusselsestraat, Mechelsestraat And Parijsstraat.

Seasonal sales take place in the city in January or July. During these periods, discounts reach 70%, and the streets are crowded with shoppers, especially on weekends.

Bars. Where to go

Leuven is a city of beer! The largest brewing company in the world, Inbev, was founded in Leuven. Therefore, going to bars here and trying a wide variety of intoxicating drinks is a real pleasure for true connoisseurs. But be careful: some Belgian beers are so strong that drinking bottles of them is a dangerous proposition.

Entry to most bars in the city is free, and beer prices are relatively low.

The most "bar" place in the city is the Old Market Square, which is sometimes called the longest bar counter in Europe, although this name is disputed by German. Almost all Leuven students flock to the Old Market Square every evening. The loudest parties take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays from late September to early December and from early February to late May (i.e. during the school year).

Near Tiensestraat There are bars belonging to student communities or "cats". To get here, it is advisable to make friends with one of the locals. “Cats” in Belgium are very close and friendly. It’s not that they don’t accept strangers... but still, it’s worth going to a foreign monastery with at least a guide. Below you will find a list of all the real student bars.

• Huis der Rechten– bar for students of the Faculty of Law;
• Politika belongs to students of the Faculty of Sociology;
• Pavlov– bar of the Faculty of Psychology;
• IN Dulci economists gather;
• Fak Letteren– bar of the Faculty of Arts;
• Deliberé- engineers' bar.

Here are a few more bars worth your attention.

• Cafe Belge. Here you will find a wide variety of Trappist beers, which were originally made by monks of the Catholic Trappist order. This beer is an integral part of the Belgian brewing tradition. Abbey beer is also present here. Its main difference from the Trappist one is that it is no longer brewed in monasteries, but in ordinary industrial breweries.
• I also recommend going to Domus. This is a small brewery and tavern. The beer made here is sold only directly to visitors.

Clubs and nightlife

Most parties take place in clubs in the city center. The entrance price is usually small and is designed for students 2 EUR - 4 EUR). Here are some of the most popular clubs:

• Club Montréal. Located at Naamsestraat 34, literally 100 meters from the town hall. Open from Mon. on Thursday from 18:00 to 06:00, as well as on Sunday. from 20:00 to 06:00;
• Lido(Bogaardenstraat 33);
• Musicafé(Muntstraat 5);
• Albatros at Brusselsestraat 15, also 100 meters from the town hall;
• Rumba & Co, (Kiekenstraat 6).

Large dance spaces are located outside the city. Entrance and drinks will cost you a little more in these places.

• Club Room, which is approximately 8 km. from the city center in the Herent area. Open on Fridays and Saturdays. Every first Friday of the month there is a gay party.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

From Leuven they bring the same things as from other parts of Belgium: chocolate, beer, diamond jewelry, designer clothes... be sure to buy chocolate in specialized chocolate boutiques such as Leonidas. When it comes to beer, choose Trappist varieties.

How to get around the city

There are several shuttle buses from the local transport company running around the city. De Lijn. They all depart from the central station (Rector De Somerplein stop). Distances in the city are very short, so most likely you won’t need buses. The best way to get around Leuven is on foot, or in extreme cases, ride a bicycle. The bike paths in Leuven are fine. There are no metro or trams in the city.

Taxi. What features exist

Taxis in Leuven can be identified by a characteristic sign on the roof. Taxi ranks are located in Fochplein And Martelarenplein. You may need a taxi if you have an overnight flight or try too many Belgian beers. A taxi in Leuven can be ordered in advance by.

Transport rental

You can rent a car in Leuven. There is an office of the international company Avis (Geldenaaksebaan 484). I advise you to book a car in advance on an aggregator website or rent a car directly in Brussels, where there are many more similar companies. To rent a car in Belgium, you need an international driving license. In addition, you must be 21 years old (it will be difficult for younger people to rent a car). A manual car for 3 days will cost about 70 EUR, see approximate prices.

Leuven - holidays with children

Leuven may not be the best place to holiday with children, but it’s not the worst either! First of all, it's safe here. This means that you don’t have to be afraid that your child will get into some kind of criminal trouble. Secondly, there are a lot of cheerful young people here, which means that your children will definitely like the atmosphere of Leuven. And thirdly, there are many parks and green corners that are great for family recreation.

Booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?

In the ranking of the rainiest and at the same time beautiful cities in Europe, Leuven, perhaps, confidently shares first place with Krakow. Seriously! When I was walking there in the pouring rain, I was ready to curse everything in the world and pledge my immortal soul just to be dry and warm with a cup of something hot and nutritious - for example, broth! And when some time passes, you remember the walks through the extraordinarily beautiful city with a bit of dreaminess and regret - we didn’t walk around enough, I wish we could walk there again...

A little history

Did you think I was going into lyrical memories now? Wait a minute! On the agenda is the history of the city of Leuven. The first mention of the city belongs to 884, when the old Roman fortress in the valley of the Dijle River, called Luvanium in Latin, or Lovon in the local dialect, was captured and plundered by the Vikings, the impudent invaders were able to defeat 2 years later by Arnulf of Carinthia. . He decided to perpetuate the victory by building a new castle on the river bank. By the way, the Church of St. Peter already existed by that time.

This victorious place became the ancestral seat of the Counts of Leuven, who later also became Counts of Brussels. In 1190, the Counts of Leuven received a more important title - Dukes of Lower Lorraine (a historical region in eastern France), a title that gave them the right to rule the middle part of what is now Belgium. Leuven becomes an important administrative and commercial center, and the capital of the Duchy of Brabant.

In the 14th century, however, Brussels became the capital of the duchy, but Leuven did not give up - in 1425, Duke John IV founded the oldest university in Belgium here, which is still the most important institution of higher education in the country - the population of the city today is 30% students . Between 1439 and 1468 The magnificent Leuven Town Hall was built - the pearl of Brabant Gothic, the beauty and pride of the Grote Markt.

The city suffered greatly during World War II and was almost completely reconstructed. At the same time, all the buildings, carefully assembled according to old drawings, do not look new at all. Today, Leuven is also known as the location of the headquarters of the famous beer company Stella Artois, and now every time my gaze falls on the shelves with beer, I remember Leuven...

Grote Markt

Leuven greets us with rain! Past shop windows (I wonder if Loewe appliances are not named after Leuven? Most likely not, but it would be so symbolic...), under an umbrella, running from cornice to cornice, we come out onto the Grote Markt, all lined with wet tables and no less wet chairs stacked on top of each other so that they form entire barricades.

On the wet-wet square, wet-wet tourists admire the following wet-wet architectural monuments: the Town Hall, St. Peter's Cathedral and the Guild Building. The square is closed by an even more wet monument-fountain to a student pouring either beer or brains into his head, and holding in his hands the textbook “Mom told me, don’t read while you eat” - perhaps this monument should be called that. The students call him "Fonske".

Town Hall

It is believed that this is the most beautiful medieval building in the world. This is probably so - because even in the rain the Town Hall looked so that, despising such little things in life as nasty rain and strong wind, I jumped out from under the umbrella in order to remove one or another part of the facade, each time in the face (and lens!) There were jets of rain, but I took photos! The authors of the amazing stone lace were three architects - masters Sulpitius Van der Vorst (1439), Keldermans (1440-1445), and Mathijs de Layens (1447-1468). It was the latter architect who created the façade in the Flaming Gothic style. This stunning pearl in the Brabant Gothic necklace cannot even be compared with anything - any comparison will be clumsy and deliberate. It looks so scary that it is scary to approach and touch the carved wall - suddenly this fragile fairy-tale house will not withstand the frailty of existence and will break. The facade consists of many windows, turrets, decorated with statues and bristling with sharp spiers.

There are 236 statues in total - this is a portrait gallery of artists, scientists, and historical figures who played a significant role in the life of the city and the university. On the upper tiers there are statues of the Counts of Leuven and the Dukes of Brabant. The Town Hall owes these very statues to Victor Hugo, who, while in the city, expressed the opinion that the niches on the facade were somewhat empty and this gave the building an unfinished look. The statues were made in the 19th century.

In 1944, the Town Hall was destroyed by German bombing and rebuilt in 1962-1983.

Now not only 3 facades of the Town Hall are available to admiring tourists, but also the interior chambers - there you can see paintings by local masters and 4 works by the 19th century Belgian sculptor Constantin Meunier.

Guild building

It is located on the approaches to the Town Hall, but is overshadowed by it, although this building is also beautiful. This is the Tafelrond, a neo-Gothic replica of a 15th-century guild building used as an office by the Belgian National Bank. It was built in 1927 after the bombing of the First World War left no stone unturned from the original.

Saint Paul's Cathedral

I still had to escape from the water falling from the sky - to St. Peter's Cathedral. Having shaken off the raindrops and dried a little, we went to inspect the church. As usual, a small Romanesque church was once built on the site of the cathedral, which, apparently, somehow did not please the architects-designers of the Town Hall - for it was rebuilt somewhere at the same time in the Gothic style - all three builders of the Town Hall were present at the church construction site . The top of the church spoiled the construction plan: the tower turned out to be so heavy that it had to be shortened, otherwise it would have collapsed on the church. The temple survived many significant and difficult events for the country, but was destroyed during the bombing in 1944. The church took a long time to be restored - from 1945 to 1998, and restoration work is still underway - scaffolding was noticed from the rear.

Walking in silence (among the tourists, besides us, there were only a few Japanese - what a restless nation!), we admired the pulpit, at the foot of which “horses and people mixed in a heap” (XVIII century), it originally belonged to the monastery of the Flemish city of Nineve. To the left of the altar stands the Virgin Mary with a dark face - Sedes Sapientiae - patroness of students and symbol of the University of Leuven (XV century).

The cathedral is decorated with many paintings, but even against the backdrop of beautiful paintings by Flemish masters, the works of Dirk Bouts, one of the most famous Flemish primitivists of the 15th century, stand out - “The Execution of St. Erasmus” and “The Last Supper”.

The paintings can be seen together with the tombstones of the Dukes of Brabant and the church treasury - for 5 euros. By the way, the tomb of Henry I, Duke of Brabant, who died in 1235, is one of the oldest in Belgium. Besides him, the Duchess of Brabant with the difficult-to-translate name Machteld (1211) and her daughter Maria (1260) are buried here. It’s also worth looking at the author’s model of the church - this is what it could be like... The clock on the main façade of the cathedral is good: when the time comes, a gilded man hits the bell with a hammer (if you look closely, you’ll notice that the hammer doesn’t touch the bell - the tongue rings inside).

To be continued.

Cities are grouped according to how they were visited - by day

The oldest university in Leuven is the Catholic University of Leuven. It was founded in 1425 at the request of Prince John IV of Drum, and became very popular thanks to Pope Eugene IV, who opened the theological faculty there.

Today, the Catholic University of Leuven has become the world philosophical center of neo-Thomism. Students of this great educational institution study in Dutch. The religion of students is different - even atheists have the right to receive education here, despite the fact that all teachers adhere to the Catholic faith and even serve the Catholic Church.

University graduates are mathematicians, astrophysicists, philosophers, humanists and famous theologians. More than one successful politician in America, Europe and Africa also graduated from this institution.

Leuven Town Hall

One of the most striking sights of Leuven is the Leuven Town Hall, built back in 1440-1460. The town hall, in a magnificent late Gothic style, is located near St. Peter's Church. Its facade is decorated with architectural statues and decorations, and the brackets depict scenes from the Bible.

In the 19th century, the town hall was restored, but in the 20th century it received severe damage from the world wars. The German bombing almost completely destroyed the structure, but it was restored in 1962-1983.

The Town Hall is considered one of the most luxurious medieval buildings in the world. It was erected by three brilliant masters: Keldermans, Matthius de Lauens, who created the “flaming Gothic” façade, and Van der Vorst.

The facade of the town hall has many turrets, windows and statues. The building's 236 statues are a portrait gallery of great artists, famous historical figures, scientists and other famous people. The upper tiers are reserved for statues of the Dukes of Brabant and Counts of Leuven.

Tourists who visit the town hall observe not only its external splendor, but also its interior, where paintings by various masters are located.

What sights of Leuven did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Leuven Botanical Garden

The botanical garden is located one kilometer from the Great Square of Leuven. Founded in 1738 by the University of Leuven, it has acquired the status of the oldest garden in the country. Initially, the purpose of its creation was medicinal herbs that could be grown in the garden. But later its collection was replenished, as it began to be used as a scientific botanical garden.

By 1819, the Botanical Garden was in dire need of expanding its area, and a new garden was opened on the site of the destroyed Capuchin monastery. It is there that the modern Botanical Garden is located, which was transferred to the city in 1835.

Today, the garden presents a unique collection of various trees, shrubs, herbs and plants located on an area of ​​2.2 hectares. In addition, a greenhouse was opened on an area of ​​450 square meters. According to approximate estimates, the Botanical Garden of Belgium presents 800 plant species.

The Church of Saint Anthony was built on the site of a church dedicated to Saint Anthony and Saint Leonard. Apparently, the modern building of the Church was built later than the fortress wall, dating back to 1458, and the portal of the temple was erected only in 1572. The facade of the building was not decorated; it was completely covered with plaster. The bell tower of the church was badly damaged after the earthquake and was reconstructed only in 1864, but the frescoes on its ceiling were poorly preserved.

The interior of the church does not stand out; it is extremely simple and laconic. Of interest are only valuable works of art - frescoes by Michele Scaroin, a huge marble altar from 1784 located under the arch, as well as 4 altars on the side walls, made of wood and decorated with gilding. The church was restored at the end of the twentieth century and is now open to the public.

Arenberg Castle

In the city of Heverle, near Leuven, there is Arenberg Castle, built in the late Gothic style. The sight of this castle will not leave more than one tourist indifferent - its beauty and grandeur amaze and seem to take you back to the times of counts, dukes and kings.

The castle was named after the Dukes von Arenberg, to whom it previously belonged. Nowadays it is owned by the Catholic University of Leuven. Since the 11th century, the territory of the castle was under the control of the lords of Heverle, and it was they who built the very first castle here. The 15th century brought ruin to the family and forced them to sell their property to the Picardians of Croix. Guillaume de Croix rebuilt Arenberg and even founded a Celestian monastery on the territory of the building, which now serves as a university library. Guillaume's son, the Prince of Porcia, destroyed in 1515 all the buildings that reminded him of ancient times and converted the castle into a more modern building.

Since 1921, the castle has belonged to the Catholic University of Leuven. This is a monumental building, made in noble brown tones. Its two towers have gabled roofs. In the middle you can see a large balcony, where high-ranking dukes once loved to breathe the fresh Belgian air. The architecture of the building is so rich that even kings could live in the castle.

Ladeuse Square

Ladeuse Square is an area in the very center of Leuven. The square was named after the former rector of the Catholic University of Leuven, Monsignor Paul Ladeuse. The area is the largest in Leuven. Before the outbreak of World War II, this square was called “People's Place”.

Among the local population, the square was called “Clarissa”. The name comes from a religious order that had a monastery on the site of the square when nothing had yet been built here. The first building on the square was erected in 1812. The place became known as Napoleon Square. Later, the square was renamed several times, and eventually it received its modern name.

In 2005, when the Catholic University of Leuven celebrated its 575th anniversary, the famous artist Jan Fabre decided to thank the city for its hospitality and created a sculpture called Totem, which is still located on the square.

The main building of the square can be called the library of the Catholic University. It was originally burned by the Germans in 1914, after which it was restored in 1921-28. The library tower, 87 meters high, has 48 bells.

Club Silo

The Belgian club Silo, which is located in Leuven, is located in a former industrial bunker. It is visited by hundreds of clubbers and techno ravers who promote Belgian electronic music from the underground to the world level.

Silo features music from Troxler's Visionquest, Booka Shade, Total Science, Anja Schneider, Netsky, Michael Mayer and other musicians and bands representing the music labels Kompakt, Made To Play and Cocoon. Musician Ben Klock, who played here, noted that the sound the system that is in the club made his heart beat at full speed and the parties he had here were the most wonderful of the whole year. Not only he, but also many other world DJs have a real pleasure playing in the Belgian club Silo. This establishment attracts with its friendly atmosphere and crowds of clubbers who have become its permanent inhabitants.

Collegiate Church of St. Peter

St. Peter's Church is located in the center of Leuven, near the Great Square. This is the oldest temple in the city. It is assumed that back in 986 a wooden church in the Romanesque style was erected on this site. Construction of the current Gothic style church began in 1425 and was completed by 1497. The architecture of the church is considered an example of the late Gothic Brabant style.

According to the layout, the basis of the temple is a Latin cross. Its eastern part is a crown of 7 chapels. In the 16th century, the chapel of Blessed Margaret was built between the central chapels, which gained honor in Leuven.

Near the eastern part of the temple are the tombs of Henry the First of Brabant, his chosen one Matilda and his daughter Marie, which were moved here in the 13th century.

The temple houses an incredible amount of art and treasures, which is why a museum of religious art was opened here. Among the outstanding works kept in the church is the triptych “The Last Supper” created by Dirk Bouts. The temple also contains many sculptures, church paraphernalia and items made of precious metals.

The most popular attractions in Leuven with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Leuven on our website.

Individual and group