Leuven

Leuven (French: Louvain) is a flourishing and lively city of about 100,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It's a genuine university city which reflects on the streets. During the academic year (end of September till end of June) the city is full of young people, especially on weekdays. Sometimes it may seem that there are no other people living in the city. Summer in Leuven in general is calmer, although a lot of summer events are organised. The university that was founded in 1425 and has more than 40,000 students is the oldest catholic university in the world. The historic center is one of the most beautiful in Belgium.

In recent years Leuven is visited by an increasing number of tourists as a result of the city's efforts in tourism and city renovation. In any case Leuven has everything to appeal to both young and not-so-young: buzzing nightlife, intriguing and sometimes stunning historic sites, the important and worldwide respected university and two seemingly unending shopping streets where one for sure will find one's liking.

The city has a long and interesting history, being founded probably in the 9th century. It was particularly interesting because of the location, at the river Dijle and close to Brussels. Most of the city was thrashed and burned to the ground by the German invasion in World War I, and was again damaged during World War II. The historic centre itself however has been preserved and historic buildings like the University Library have been restored, partly with foreign relief funds.

Leuven is located just east of Brussels (20 km). It is the capital of the Province of Flemish Brabant in Belgium. This means it houses a lot of administrative services and the Province Building, where the province council is located. Its main industries are technology (due to the University) and beer. Important companies have their home base in Leuven, such as InBev and Imec

Leuven contains two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Groot Begijnhof (Grand Beguinage) is part of the Flemish Beguinages. The Belfry on St Peter's Church is a part of the Belfries of Belgium and France. The University buildings and the Historic Centre are also on Belgium's tentative list to become a World Heritage site in its own right.

See

You can get more information about these sites and more at the Tourist Information Desk, situated on the Grote Markt, near City Hall. While the most important old-looking buildings (Town Hall, Cathedral, etc.) are indeed from Medieval times, most of the common houses that look old are actually (non faithful) reconstructions of buildings that were destroyed in the first World War; these buildings carry a stone-carved sign with the coat of arm of Leuven and the indicaation "1914".

• ⊙Town Hall (Stadhuis), Grote Markt 9. A richly decorated gothic building on the Grote Markt. The belfry is a  UNESCO World Heritage site. 
• The small port of Leuven (Jachthaven). a port located at the end of the canal connecting Leuven and Mechelen. In this area a lot of industrial sites are being transformed in expensive apartments. It is the home of Stella Artois. 
• ⊙University Library (Universiteitsbibliotheek), Mgr. Ladeuzeplein 21, ☎ +32 16 324660. A beautiful building, a valuable collection. Also has an interesting, huge sculpture of a dead beetle on a needle in front of it. 
• ⊙Fonske, Rector De Somerplein. The "fountain of wisdom" 
• ⊙Lakenhal. The administrative centre of the K.U.Leuven. (updated Jun 2017)
• ⊙Groot Begijnhof (Grand Béguinage) (South of the Grote Markt). This beguinage, the larger of the two in the town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• ⊙St. Gertrude Church (Sint-Geertruikerk), Halfmaartstraat. (updated Jun 2017)
• ⊙St. Gertrude Abbey (Sint-Geertruiabdij). (updated Jun 2017)
• ⊙Klein Begijnhof. The small beguinage. (updated Jun 2017)
• If you follow the river Dijle northwards from Brusselsestraat (near the Grote Markt) towards the area of the Klein Begijnhof, you will see a few Bruges-like scenes as the river passes by buildings.
• Collegium Trilingue, near the Vismarkt
• The Law Court (Gerechtshof), in the Rijschoolstraat.
• ⊙St.Peter's Church (Sint-Pieterskerk), UNESCO world heritage on the Grote Markt.
• Old Market (Oude Markt), filled with bars and restaurants
• Botanical Garden (Kruidtuin) There are picnic tables in the South East corner on your left from the entrance gate.
• War Monument for those who have fallen in WWI and WWII, on the Martelarenplein.
• ⊙M (M - Museum). The city museum, located at the Vanderkelenstraat, close to the Ladeuzeplein and the Bondgenotenlaan. It has a permanent collection of medieval and modern art, and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. Tickets give you access to the museum in the cellars of the St.Peter's Church. 
• Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein and Herbert Hooverplein are two adjacent squares with a mixture of modern and older buildings. In a corner of Herbert Hooverplein is a monument depicting people traveling by hot air balloon.
• ⊙Keizersberg Abbey, Mechelsestraat 202 (end of Mechelsestraat, on top of the hill). with Leuven's own "statue of Liberty", a 15 meters high statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the city from the park surrounding the abbey. (updated Jun 2017)

Do

• Visit the historic centre, the University buildings and the St. Peter's Church on the Grand Place. Information and guided tours can be found at the Tourist Information Desk.
• A City Tour Bus leaves for sightseeing around the city from the Fochplein, situated right next to the Grand Place and City Hall.

Eat

In general, you'd have to really make an effort to find a horrible meal in Leuven. Almost all restaurants are tasty and relatively cheap (for Belgium), given the student population. Many Belgians enjoy French fries and snacks in a Frietkot if they're looking for a quick and cheap bite. Try fresh North Sea Mussels, during their season (roughly August–March).

The more common, bigger restaurants can be found right next to City Hall on the Grote Markt.

Look for cheaper restaurants on the Oude Markt (Old Market) as that's where the student population mostly enjoys their meal. It has many smaller restaurants and bars (the Old Market is sometimes called the longest bar in Europe), but all of them stop serving food after 22:00.

There are many good eateries and a great atmosphere (eating outside during the Summer is a can't-miss!) in the Muntstraat, very different styles from classical French Belgian cuisine to "Mexican", Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese. Consult the brand new website for more information. But these restaurants of this street are quite overpriced.

Parijsstraat has some restaurants with a nice atmosphere.

The Martelarenplein houses a lot of restaurants and bars just a stone's throw away from the railway station.

The cheapest choice are student cantines called Alma, which serve quite decent food for the whole meal less than €7-10 (two in the centre, one in the campus and many small ones).

Sleep

Inside the range of 4 km:

• ⊙   Hotel ibis Leuven Centrum, Leuven, PC VI - IX

  "... there is an underground parking with CCTV and bicycles can be placed in an extra secured storage if needed."

• ⊙   Guest House Feliz, Leuven, PC VI

  "... We have the possibility to park your bicycles in our hall, no problem."

• ⊙   Hotel The Shepherd, Leuven, PC V - X

  "... A locked bicycle shed is available for cyclists."

• ⊙   Hotel Ladeuze, Leuven, PC VI

  "... There is a safe place to store your bikes, accessible only by code."

• ⊙   Hotel Mille Colonnes, Leuven, PC IV

  "... there is a garage near the hotel, where bicycles can be placed."

• ⊙   Begijnhof Hotel, Leuven, PC VII - X

  "... We do have a safe room where your bikes could be stored. It is actually a not yet renovated room that we now use as a storage for bikes for our guests which is locked with a key that we keep at the reception."

• ⊙   Hotel Park Inn, Leuven, PC VI - X

  "... We can store your bikes in one of our meeting rooms that are kept locked."

• ⊙   B&B Wannes Suite, Leuven, PC IV

  "... The bikes you can park in our storage room with direct access from the street (you will get a key to the door)."

• ⊙   B&B de bron Heverlee, Leuven, PC IV

  "... The bikes can be stored in à veranda or if preferred inside the house ."

• ⊙   B&B Lavan, Leuven, PC VI - VIII

  "... a place outside behind a gate."

• ⊙   B&B Mollekesberg, Herent, PC V

  "... We have a lockable garage, place for 4 bikes with e-loading facilities, and repair tools."

Useful

Inside the range of 4 km:

• ⊙   Tourist-Information Leuven, Leuven