Leuven (Belgium) is the main city of the province of Flemish Brabant. It is located on the banks of the river Dil, its western edge is directed in the direction of the capital Brussels.
In the Middle Ages, Leuven was a famous shopping center, and now this dynamic and prosperous city is one of the university centers of Belgium, which attracts not only Belgians, but also international students. To better understand the importance of Leuven in the field of education, it is enough to compare these figures: the city’s population is about 95,000 people, while there are almost 55,000 students here, and 10% are foreign. This unique city is on the one hand a fun youth world, and on the other – the world of a calm and very nice province.
And the city of Leuven is an ideal starting point for exploring almost the whole of Belgium: Brussels is only 30 km away, the Flemish coast can be reached by train in 1.5 hours, and other interesting cities are not so far away (developing Liege, ancient neat Ghent, Hasselt, Antwerp, Bruges, Mechelen).
Main attractions
This provincial town with green squares and old buildings has many interesting architectural and historical attractions.
The Leuven tourist office is located on Naamsestraat No. 1, which is open every day, except holidays, from 10: 00 to 17: 00. From April 1 to October 31, the office staff organizes 2-hour walking tours to explore the city and its main attractions-on Wednesdays starting at 19: 00, on Sundays at 10: 30. Every Saturday and Sunday, at 15:00, there is a guided tour of the historical center of Leuven. The guide conducts guided tours in 2 languages: the main one is German, the second one is at your discretion.
So which sights in Leuven (Belgium) most often attract the attention of tourists?
Town Hall
The town Hall, built in 1448-1469, is considered the hallmark of Leuven. It is located on the central square of the city. Other outstanding sights in Leuven are also very close by. The Town Hall has three tiers, two of which are decorated with sculptures of people who played an important role in the history of the city. Tourists can visit all tiers, as well as the interior rooms, which contain paintings by famous masters.
The building is designed in the Barbant Gothic style. The facade of the building is decorated with 236 statues, among which no two are identical. In the evening, the Town Hall is illuminated with multi-colored lights, so it makes sense to come here several times and look at the structure in different lighting conditions.
An excursion tour is organized according to the following schedule:
- April-September – on weekdays at 11: 00 and 15: 00, and on holidays and weekends only at 15: 00;
- October-March – every day at 15: 00.
The group gathers in the tourist office, which is located on the right side of the building. The tour costs 4 € per person.
Grand Beguinage
Grand Beguinage-this landmark is an integral historical complex in the southern part of Leuven, consisting of intricately intertwined streets with hundreds of old houses. In the 13th century, these houses were inhabited by Beguines – the so-called women who lived in conditions close to the monastic life. All these buildings are in perfect condition, some of them are inhabited by people. The Beguinage is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The grand Beguinage is a pleasant place to take a walk: walk along the authentic stone pavements, admire the vegetation and the old canal.
Botanical Garden
In the western part of the city, very close to the center, is the oldest Botanical Garden in Belgium (founded in 1738). In 1819, it was expanded at the expense of the land that once was a Capuchin monastery. Now there are almost 800 species of plants growing in the garden. The garden is especially beautiful in spring, when everything is blooming, and it is at this time and on this territory of the city of Leuven (Belgium) that the most picturesque photos are obtained. There are wisteria trees, apple trees, chocolate tree and other fruit trees. A family of turtles lives in the park, which should be appreciated by children.
The garden is located at Kapucijnenvoer 30 and admission is free.
Old Market Square
Another city attraction is the Old Market Square ensemble, which began to form about 900 years ago, and the custom of organizing fairs at this place was born at the same time.
Almost every house on this square has a restaurant or bar selling local beer. In the daytime, this old market looks very decent and refined, and at night it turns into a solid bar counter, surrounded by cute old facades.
University Library and Bell tower
The University of Leuven was founded in 1425 and was the first in Belgium. It has a long and complicated history. Today, the territory of the educational institution is open to tourists. The library and bell tower are of the greatest interest.
The fully functioning library, which was burned down by the Germans during World War I, was built in 1928 as a war memorial thanks to donated funds from numerous high schools and colleges, most of which are American. The warm and cozy reading room is made of wood, from floor to ceiling. On the adjacent 73.5-meter bell tower, 63 bells are installed, the total weight of which is 35 tons. The bell tower offers a magnificent view of the city, but to see it you will have to climb almost 300 steps to the top.
You can visit this city landmark on any day except Monday. It works on the following schedule:
- Tuesday and Thursday – from 13: 00 to 17: 00;
- Wednesday – from 10: 00 to 17: 00;
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday – from 10: 00 to 17: 00.
The cost of the visit is 7 euros (with an audio guide).
St. Peter’s Basilica
When visiting the sights of Leuven, you can not lose sight of St. Peter’s Cathedral, located on the Town Hall Square. In 1998, the altar and gallery of the oldest church in the city were turned into a museum, the main exhibits of which were numerous statues and other works of art. The greatest value in this museum is a wooden head-the only thing that has survived from the crucifix of the XII century, which burned down during the First World War.
You don’t need a ticket to see the interiors, but you will need to pay for the entrance to the treasury, where the triptych by Dirk Boates (Dutch Renaissance master) is located. The cathedral is open to the public until 17: 00.
Monument to Fonska
The Fonske Monument is one of the many, and perhaps the most famous, avant-garde sculptures in Leuven. There are several theories as to what this fountain monument, opened in 1975, means. According to the official version, it serves as a symbol of conscientious students, and people say that it is a monument to great lovers of alcoholic libations. Both versions are not without meaning, because in Leuven there is not only a university, but also the Stella Artois brewery.
Kotmadam Monument
There is another extravagant attraction in the Old Market Square of Leuven – the Kotmad Monument, erected in 1985. The monument is a long bench, on the right side of it sits a young slender girl, whose whole figure expresses relaxation and carelessness, and the gaze is directed into the distance.
Many tourists sit on the bench with Kotmadam, take photos, and some even try to kiss her.
Dorre Baker Monument
This original sculpture is located on Leuven’s Diestsestraat shopping street. This is a monument to a baker who carries 4 loaves of bread on a large square tray.
Many locals smile at the sight of this statue, but children especially like it – they even try to take bread from the baker, but they do not succeed.
Falling Horse Statue
Erasmun Garden-this part in the center of Leuven is not very popular with tourists. Nevertheless, this small green oasis can be visited at least for the sake of sculptures, among which the “Falling Horse”can be considered the most interesting.
The horse and rider are a fairly frequent theme in the history of sculpture, and the horse is usually depicted as a typical heroic creature. The author of this work gives the theme a new direction: he presents the horse as a tragic, even broken creature.
Sculpture “Arrow of cows”
The Cow Shooter statue depicts a man who killed a cow with a canon shot. The shooter looks very proud. There is an interesting story about the hero to whom this sculpture is dedicated. In 1691, this territory was under the control of the French, which the local population did not like very much. One night, the locals shot what they believed to be their enemies, but the next morning it turned out that cows had been killed.
Prices for holidays in Leuven
Although there are a lot of students in Leuven, this city is quite expensive.
Lunch for one person in an inexpensive cafe will cost 7-8€, and in a middle-class restaurant-27-33€. The cheapest restaurants in Leuven are located on the Oude Markt, and this is where many students come to dine. Among the budget institutions of the city can be distinguished::
- Traiteur Kapucijn at the Botanical Garden-they offer fresh baguettes with different fillings for 2-5€.
- Tiensestraat 123 has a mid-level restaurant, Etna Trattoria, serving Sicilian cuisine.
- For vegetarians, you can recommend a good mid-level Asian restaurant Taj Mahal-address Muntstraat 10B.
To rent a room in a decent hotel, you will have to pay about 90€per day. The cost of renting a 1-room apartment not in the city center-from 500€ per month, in the center – from 700€. But if you only rent a separate room, it will be cheaper: not in the center about 250€, in the center-350€.
A public transport pass costs€ 39, while a single-trip ticket costs up to€2.1. A taxi around the city will cost at least 20€.
How to get to Leuven from Brussels
The city of Leuven in Belgium is located just 30 km from the capital of the state, Brussels. The nearest international airport to Leuven is located in the capital. There are several ways to get from the Belgian capital to Leuven.
Train
An Intercity train (operated by Belgian Railways) departs every hour from Bruxelles-Nord station. You need to get off at Leuven train station, located east of the center. In terms of time, the journey takes 18 minutes, and the fare will cost 5-8€.
Bus
The Schaarbeek Dailly bus stop in Brussels is served by De Lijn bus number 358 every 30 minutes. Arrival point-Leuven Sint-Pieterskliniek stop, travel time is 48 minutes. The cost of travel is 2-3€.
Taxi
A trip from Brussels to Leuven will cost 60-75€. If you order a transfer, the driver can stop at the hotel or meet you at the airport with a sign. You can also take a taxi at the parking lot (airport, Martelarenplein and Fochplein squares). You can identify licensed taxis by their yellow-blue or red-and-white symbols.
Car
You can go to Leuven (Belgium) from Brussels via the E40 highway (direction to Liege). The trip will take 2 liters of gasoline at a cost of 3-5 euros. Please note that there are speed limits of 50 km / h in and around Leuven.
Interesting facts and useful tips
- Many Russian emigrants studied at the University of Leuven under the Cardinal Mercier scholarship. Among them is Yuri Felichkin, a Soviet intelligence officer and teacher.
- In the ranking of the authoritative Times Higher Education publication, the University of Leuven in Belgium ranks 45th.
- The Inbev brewery, located in Leuven, is the largest in the world.
- Cycling is popular in the city. Bicycles can be rented to explore the city. But keep in mind that traffic rules are monitored by the police and even cyclists are often fined. Also, be sure to fasten a two-wheeled vehicle if you leave it for even a minute, theft is common here.
