Leuven (Belgium) – the most detailed information about the city with photos. Leuven’s main attractions with a description, guides and cards.
Contents
City Leuven (Belgium)
Leuven is a city in Belgium located on the Dil river in the historic region of Flanders. Is the capital of the province Flemish Brabant. Leuven – the most famous university city Belgium The university, founded here in 1425, is considered one from the oldest and most respected educational institutions of Western Europe. Leuven is also interesting because most of it is preserved. early architecture, despite the fact that the city suffered heavy bombing in both world wars.
- Geography and climate
- Practical information
- Story
- How to get there
- sights
- Video
- Maps and guides
- Comments and reviews
Geography and climate
Leuven is located 25 km east of Brussels. The city has mild maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters.
Streets of Leuven
Practical information
- The population is 101 thousand people.
- The area is 56.63 km2.
- The language is Dutch.
- Currency – Euro.
- Visa – Schengen.
- The main shopping area of the city is the neighborhood of two streets from train station to Grand Place Square. Main center local shopping – street Diestsestraat, which is pedestrian Small shops can be found on the streets. Brusselsestraat, Mechelsestraat and Parijsstraat.
- Leuven is famous for tasty and inexpensive food. Cheap restaurants located on the Oude Markt (Old Market) and very popular with student population.
- Great inexpensive eateries can be found on the street. Muntstraat.
- Leuven is known for great beer. And it is not surprising, because here is the world’s largest brewery Inbev. Beer bars concentrated mainly in the area of the Old Market.
Story
The earliest mention of Leuven dates back to 891, when the outskirts of the settlement by the Frankish king Arnulf was defeated Viking army. Between the 11th and 14th centuries Leuven became one of the most important trading cities of Brabant. In the 14th and 15th centuries it flourished. thanks to the production of linen cloth.
Architecture Leuven
Later textile production fell into disrepair. In 1425 in The university was founded in Leuven, which predetermined the development cities for the next century. In the 18th century, Leuven turned into one of centers of the Belgian brewing industry, which is flourishing here until now since then Most of the city was destroyed and burned to the ground during German invasion of the First World War. Then Leuven again suffered during the bombing of the Second World War. Despite this, most historic buildings were carefully restored.
How to get there
Leuven is in close proximity to the Brussels airport. To get here, you need to take a suburban train. Travel time is about 15 minutes. Trains depart every half hour weekdays and three times an hour on weekends. You can also take the buses 616, 651 or 652, which depart from the airport bus station and go to the train station Leuven.
Railway train station Leuven
Leuven is one of the most important railway junctions Belgium You can get here by train from Brussels, Mechelen, Antwerp, Bruges, Lira, Ghent, Liege and other Belgian cities. FlixBus links Leuven with Ghent, Brugge and Ostend, and also Maastricht, Cologne and even Prague.
sights
Holy Church Petra
St. Peter’s Church is a medieval religious building, which is one of the architectural dominants of the Grote Markt. it a magnificent sample of Brabant gothic, built in the 15th century. The church has a cruciform layout and a low bell tower, which has never been completed. Remarkable features of the main the nave are gabled arched windows. Among the treasures of the church should pay attention to the late-gothic latin font in the chapel to the left of the west gate as well magnificent baroque pulpit from the 18th century.
Town hall
Town Hall – a symbol of Leuven and one of the most beautiful buildings in Belgium It was built in the style of the Brabant late Gothic between 1448 and 1469 years. Town Hall is located on the Grote Markt opposite the church of St. Peter. The most remarkable feature The buildings are three rows of sculptures that adorn the main facade. The side facade is decorated with 236 figures added in the 19th century. They represent the outstanding personalities of Leuven. The roof of the town hall is rich decorated with small turrets, and along niche bases biblical reliefs are located that date back to Middle Ages.
Inside the town hall there is a large gothic council hall with a carved beamed ceiling dating from the 15th century, as well as a small gothic hall with a vaulted wooden ceiling.
To the right of the town hall is the quarter Naamsestraat, which It is a magnificent example of architecture from the 15th to 18th centuries. It also includes several historic university buildings.
Holy Church Michael
St. Michael’s Church – a magnificent example of architecture baroque. This religious building was built by the Jesuits in 17 century on the site of a medieval church of the 12th century.
Holy Church Quentin
Church of St. Quentin (Sint-Kwintenskerk) – building in style Brabant Gothic, built in the 15th century on the site of the Romanesque the chapel. The church is considered one of the most impressive buildings. Leuven. The tower was built in the 19th century on the site of an older structures.
Old market
Old Market (Oude Markt) – a noisy old square, which is is still the center of Leuven. This place is always full energy, especially in the summer evenings. Although old brick houses were almost completely destroyed in 1914. Later they were rebuilt and now houses cafes, bars and restaurants. Many people call the Old Market “the longest bar in Europe.”
Beginage
Beginage (Groot Begijnhof) – the community of the women’s order of beetles, based in Leuven in the 13th century. Is the most charming area of the city that miraculously preserved its historical appearance and character. This quarter includes more 1000 houses and a church. Also here used to be a farm and hospital. In fact, Beginage is a “city within a city.” This is a place with special way and way of life. Now this historical complex included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Academic library
The academic library was founded in the 17th century in a building former cloth hall. The library was destroyed during the First World War and restored in the 20s of the last century. The nearby bell tower is one of the most beautiful structures. Leuven and has a height of 73.5 meters. The bell tower includes the carillon of 63 bells with a total weight of 35 tons.
Romanesque gate
The Romanesque gate dates back to the 13th century and is the only a preserved fragment, left over from the monastery of Saint Elizabeth, founded in Leuven in the 11th century. Represent a round arched Portal of white sandstone and dark gray doronsky limestone. Now this gate gives access to a whole range of historical buildings, including a late Gothic chapel (1490-1515), restored monastic wing with parts of an old building (16 century), east wing of an old gothic monastery, neoclassical hospital (1840-1868) and renovated farm house.
Holy Abbey Gertrude
Abbey of St. Gertrude – a complex of former monastic buildings, founded by Augustinians in the early 13th century. Abbey was closed in 1797.
Abbey Park
Abbey Park – a monastery of the order of premonstrants, founded to southeast of Leuven in the 12th century. Most buildings (surviving to this day) date back significantly later 16 – 17 over the centuries. This monastery complex includes a large gate, a windmill, a gothic and renaissance abbot, a church built between the 12th and 13th centuries (and rebuilt in the 17th and 18 centuries), library and refectory.
Video
Maps and guides
Tourist Card
