| Leuven (NL) Leuven, (FR) Louvain | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Flanders | |
| Territory | Flemish Brabant | |
| Altitude | 30 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 56.63 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 99.288 (2016) | |
| Prefix tel | 32 013, 016, 014 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 3000, 3001, 3010, 3012, 3018 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Leuven is a city of Belgium located in the region of Flanders.
To know
Leuven is an important university city in Belgium rich in monuments and museums and surrounded by important natural areas. It is the capital of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It is a university city for this reason during the academic year (from the end of September to the 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 is generally calmer, although many summer events are organized. The university founded in 1425 and with over 40,000 students is the oldest Catholic university in the world. The old town is one of the most beautiful in Belgium.
The city hosts many administrative services and the provincial building, where the provincial council is located. Its main industries are technology (due to the University) and beer. Major companies such as InBev and Imec have their bases in Leuven.
Geographical notes
It is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant and one of the most hilly in the Belgian territory. Leuven has a very central location in Flanders, which makes it the ideal starting point to discover the other parts of the country: Brussels is about 20 kilometers, the coast is only an hour and a half by train and Antwerp just 50 Km, Bruges, Ghent, Liege, Mechelen is Hasselt are nearby.
Background
The city has a long and interesting history, having probably been founded in the 9th century. It was particularly interesting due to the location, on the Dijle River and close to Brussels. Most of the city was hit and burned by the German invasion in World War I, and was again damaged during World War II. However, the historic center itself has been preserved and historic buildings such as the university library have been restored, partly with foreign relief funds.
How to orient yourself
Leuven: full screen map.How to get
By plane
- 1 Brussels-National Airport (IATA: BRU). It is the main international airport in Belgium and has many direct international connections to North America, Asia and especially Africa. Brussels has connections with all European capitals and most other major cities.
- To get to Leuven from the airport, you can take a suburban train which takes 13 minutes for € 9.10. There is a run every half hour on weekdays and three times per hour on weekends. It is also possible to take buses 616, 651 or 652 from the airport bus station to and from the train station in Leuven (1.25 hours, 3 €). Taxis wait in the arrivals area (around 20 minutes, depending on traffic, ± 70 €, ± 45 € for pre-booked taxis).
- 2 Charleroi-Brussels South Airport (IATA: CRL). Other low-cost airlines arrive in Charleroi, but the travel time to Leuven is considerably longer (at least 1.5 hours). You can buy a special bus train ticket for € 15.80 which will allow you to take the bus from Charleroi airport to Charleroi train station, and from there to Leuven train station. There is no direct rail link between Leuven and Charleroi; you have to change trains in Brussels. Another possibility is to take the FlibCo shuttle at Brussels Zuid / Midi station which runs every half hour. Pre-ordered taxis cost around € 90. More information on the airport website.
By car
Leuven can be easily reached by car. The E40 motorway runs from Brussels via Leuven to Liège, while the E314 motorway connects the city with the province of Limburg and with Maastricht is Aachen, about 1 hour away. The city has recently installed a parking guidance system that guides you to larger parking lots in the city center. Look for the electronic signs on the ring road.
It is advisable not to start looking for parking on the street, as it is expensive and the many one-way streets can be a real maze when driving.
Note that the speed limit around the city is 50km / h, or 30km / h within the ring road and in some other areas. The chances of getting a fine when you exceed the speed limit, even slightly, are close to 100%, especially on the ring road.
- 3 Jachthaven (Tourist port), Vaartkom (Located at the end of the canal connecting Leuven and Mechelen). A marina. In this area, many industrial sites are transformed into expensive apartments. It is also the home of the Stella Artois factory.
On the train
- 4 Leuven station. One of the busiest stations in Belgium. There are frequent direct trains to and from:
- Brussels Airport (13 minutes)
- Brussels (Brussels North: 18 minutes, Brussels Central: 24 minutes, Brussels Zuid / Midi: 30 minutes)
- Mechelen (20 minutes), Lier is Antwerp (50 minutes)
- Ghent (1 hour) e Bruges (1 hour and 20 minutes)
- The Flemish coast, with trains to Ostend, Knokke is Blankenberge (1 hour and 30 minutes) and De Panne (2 hours and 30 minutes)
- Aalst, Sint-Niklaas is Kortrijk West
- Aarschot, Diest, Tienen, Sint-Truiden, Hasselt, Genk is Tongeren towards East
- Liege (30 minutes), Verviers (55 minutes) ed Eupen (1 hour and 15 minutes) in the eastern part of the Wallonia
- Mons (1 hour and 30 minutes), Nivelles is Soignies in the western part of Wallonia
- Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, where there is a connection with the train to Namur and the Luxembourg
- Almost all cities can be reached by train via Brussels North or Brussels Zuid / Midi. Thalys and Eurostar trains depart from Brussels Zuid / Midi.
By bus
- 5 (The bus station is right next to the train station.). There are bus lines to and from the cities around Leuven (Brussels, Tienen, Aarschot, Mechelen, Diest is Wavre). The buses are sometimes faster (and cheaper) if you want to go to Herentals, Turnhout, Geel or in other cities in the region of Kempen. Almost all buses are operated by the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. Many bus lines also have stops in other areas of the city.
- FlixBus offers direct connections (once a day), west to Ghent, Bruges is Ostend and eastward to Maastricht, Colony and up to Prague.
By taxi
Licensed taxis have the yellow-and-blue (or old red-and-white) colors on top. They can mainly be found at the airport. A trip to Leuven usually takes 20 min (if traffic is not a lot) and costs around € 70.
By bike
The city has many special areas for cyclists and most, but not all (watch out for police checks), one-way streets are accessible both ways for cycles. It is very easy and comfortable. Make sure you lock the bike on a fixed object or the bike will be stolen. It is also possible to rent them. More information can be obtained at the tourist information office (near the town hall).
How to get around
The city has recently installed several new road signs and maps in different areas, which makes getting around the city much easier. Don't be afraid to ask people on the street for information, as they are usually very open and helpful towards tourists - some will even accompany you to your destination.
By public transport
The public transport company De Lijn has a number of bus lines running through the city. The center of their network is the train station and the stop at Fochplein. Since the distances are not that great, you won't really need public transport if you don't go to Meerdaalwoud, Heverleebos, Campus Arenberg or Gasthuisberg hospital. There are no metro or tram lines.
By taxi
Licensed taxis can be identified by the blue-and-yellow / red-white symbol and can be found near the Fochplein and Martelarenplein. While you will probably never need them, given the perfect train connection, they are probably the easiest way to get to the airport, for example at night.
On foot
Arriving by train, reach the 1 Martelarenplein in front of the station and take the 2 Bondgenotenlaan to reach the city center: the Grote Markt (Grand Place) is where the tourist information office is located. Discover the rest of the historic center from there. Note that you can also take the 3 Diestsestraat, which is a pedestrian street.
What see
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In recent years Leuven has been visited by an increasing number of tourists due to the city's efforts in tourism and renovation. Leuven has everything to appeal to young and old alike: the vibrant nightlife, intriguing and sometimes astonishing historical sites, the prominent university, and two seemingly endless shopping streets are sure to please.
Leuven has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Groot Begijnhof (Grand Beguinage) which is part of the Flemish Beguinages. The bell tower of the church of San Pietro which is part of the belfry of Belgium and France. The university buildings and the Old Town are also on Belgium's tentative list to become a world heritage site in its own right.
Grote Markt
1 municipal building (Stadhuis), Grote Markt 9, ☎ 32 16 203020, @[email protected]. 
Free admission every 3rd Saturday of the month. 
A richly decorated Gothic Brabant building on the Grote Markt. It was completed in 1469, the two world wars fortunately did not cause damage to the building, except for a bomb that exploded in the square that damaged the facade forcing a long restoration work until 1983. The bell tower is a UNESCO world heritage site. . You can visit it and see the council chamber and the former mayor's office.
Free admission every 3rd Saturday of the month. 
A richly decorated Gothic Brabant building on the Grote Markt. It was completed in 1469, the two world wars fortunately did not cause damage to the building, except for a bomb that exploded in the square that damaged the facade forcing a long restoration work until 1983. The bell tower is a UNESCO world heritage site. . You can visit it and see the council chamber and the former mayor's office.
- 2 Collegiate Church of San Pietro (Sint-Pieterskerk), Grote Markt. The church of St. Peter, located opposite the town hall, is the central church of Leuven. In Brabantine Gothic style dating back to around 1425, this church is also a UNESCO site because of its bell tower. Built on the remains of a seventh century church, it includes, among others, a beautiful sapientae seat, an organ and a carved pulpit. Inside there is also a museum: the treasures of San Pietro, linked to the Museum-M. Inside are preserved Flemish paintings of high value.
- 3 Fonske (fountain), Grote Markt. The "source of wisdom" by sculptor Jer Claerhout from 1975.
Churches and monasteries
- 4 Church of San Gertrude (Sint-Geertruikerk), Halfmaartstraat.
- 5 Abbey of San Gertrude (Sint-Geertruiabdij).
- 6 Great Beguinage (Grand Béguinage) (South of the Grote Markt). It is one of the largest existing beguinages in Flanders. These are buildings and convents usually located near a church and surrounded by walls.
- 7 Small Beguinage (Klein Begijnhof).
- 8 Keizersberg Abbey, Mechelsestraat 202 (end of Mechelsestraat, at the top of the hill). An abbey with the "statue of liberty" of Leuven, a 15 meter high statue of the Virgin Mary that dominates the city from the park surrounding the abbey
Other buildings
- A neighborhood similar to Bruges (Follow the Dijle River north from Brusselsestraat (near the Grote Markt) to the Klein Begijnhof area). You will see some Bruges-like landscapes as the river passes by the buildings.
- 9 M Museum (Vicus Artium), Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28 (in the Vanderkelenstraat, near the Ladeuzeplein and the Bondgenotenlaan), ☎ 32 16 272929.
Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun: 11: 00-18: 00. The city museum. It has a permanent collection of medieval and modern art and periodically hosts temporary exhibitions. There is also a rooftop terrace overlooking the city. Audio guides are available free of charge. Tickets also give access to the museum in the cellars of the church of San Pietro.
Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun: 11: 00-18: 00. The city museum. It has a permanent collection of medieval and modern art and periodically hosts temporary exhibitions. There is also a rooftop terrace overlooking the city. Audio guides are available free of charge. Tickets also give access to the museum in the cellars of the church of San Pietro..JPG/150px-Leuven-Universiteitshal_(1).JPG)
- 10 KU Leuven University Hall (KU Leuven Universiteitshal), Naamsestraat 22, ☎ 32 16 32 40 40. Administrative center of the University.
- 11 University library (Universiteitsbibliotheek), Mgr. Ladeuzeplein 21, ☎ 32 16 32 4660. Library of the University of Louvain founded in 1425. A beautiful building with a valuable collection. It also has an interesting, huge sculpture of a dead beetle (Totem, by Jan Fabre) on a needle.
- 12 Aremberg Castle (Kasteel van Arenberg). free. From 1 April to 30 September: Mon-Sat 10: 00-16: 30, Sun 11: 00-16: 30. From 1st Oct to 31st Mar: closed on Wednesdays. A Gothic-style castle in the suburb of Heverlee, now a campus of the University of Leuven.
- 13 Heverlee War Cemetery (Engels Militair Kerkhof), Bierbeekpleindreef (5 km south of the city). Commonwealth Military Cemetery
- 14 Old market (Oude Markt). A square full of bars and restaurants
Parks
- 15 [link previously not working]San Donato Park (Sint-Donatuspark) (50 meters from the Ladeuzeplein). From 1 April to 30 September: 7: 00-21: 30, from 1 October to 30 March: 7: 00-19: 00.
- 16 Abbey Park (Abbey Park), Abdij van Park 7 (1 km south of the city. On Geldenaaksebaan go under the railway bridge, then left), ☎ 32 16 40 01 51.
- 17 Botanical Garden (Kruidtuin), Kapucijnenvoer (a side street of the Brusselsestraat). There are picnic tables in the southeast corner to the left from the entrance gate to a War Monument for those who fell in WWI and WWII, on Martelarenplein. The garden was founded in 1738 and is the oldest in Belgium.
Events and parties
- Zythoos Bierfestival. April. Beer event
- Easter celebrations. Easter weekend. Religious celebrations and international folklore festival.
- Docville. May. International Documentary Film Festival.
- Beleuvenissen. Every Friday in July. It is a music and cultural festival in the squares of the city center.
- Hapje Tapje. First Sunday of August. It is the only day of the year when all the bars and restaurants put out stalls outside to promote their products.
- Jaarmarkt. First Monday of September. The entire city center is transformed into a large market. Cattle are also sold on the streets surrounding the Sint-Jacobsplein, 500 meters from the Grote Markt. Schools are closed for this occasion, so expect a lot of visitors.
- Leuven Kermis (Carnival of Leuven). September. It is a carnival located on the Ladeuzeplein and the Hooverplein (right next to it).
- Louvain International Short Film Festival. December. Film Festival.
- Christmas market, Ladeuze-e Hooverplein. December. Visit the Christmas market and shop for Christmas gifts, taste local specialties and drink a glass of Glühwein or brandy.
What to do
- 30CC. Leuven has a cultural organization which organizes all kinds of cultural activities throughout the year, for example in the city theater on the Bondgenotenlaan. Activities are less frequent during the summer.
- City Tour Bus. Bus to visit the city from the Fochplein, located right next to the Grand Place and the town hall.
- Take a walk or bike ride a Meerdaalwoud or Heverleebos, the green lungs of the city on the outskirts of Heverlee and Oud-Heverlee, easily accessible by bike or bus (15 minutes). Many good walking routes. Some parts of the forest are still intact. For more information, check out the ad route, describing many different possibilities for fun activities and how to reach them by public transport with Ad Wouters artwork (wood carvings) as a central theme.
- Take a boat trip along the Vaart, the Leuven-Mechelen canal. Board a boat in the small port north of Leuven, 500 meters from the train station.
- 1 Brewery, Vaartstraat 94. Where famous names such as Stella Artois, Vieux Temps and Leffe Radieuse are produced.
- Play sport. It can be practiced in the sports center of the city, with a swimming pool (including a small subtropical part with slides, sauna, steam baths and jacuzzi), fitness center, squash courts and more.
Shopping
Shopping in Leuven is easy: you can choose one of the two main streets that start from the train station and end at the Grand Place, near the town hall and St. Peter's church. Shops usually close around 6pm and 8pm on Thursdays. Supermarkets are generally open until 8pm, 9pm on Fridays.
- Visit the market every Friday on the Ladeuze-e Hooverplein, the flea market every Saturday near the Grote Markt (Mechelsestraat), and the flower market in the pedestrian part of Brusselsestraat (the street leading away from the Grote Markt), also every Saturday .
- There Diestestraat it is the most important commercial street in Leuven. It has recently been changed to be pedestrian only for the total length of the road (about 1km!). This street also has two small shopping centers, one of which is home to the Kinepolis cinemas.
- Look for smaller shops around the Brusselsestraat, to Mechelsestraat and to Parijsstraat.
- There Bondgenotenlaan it also offers many shops, but is also the main road between the train station area and the center.
- Leuven has a lot of clothing stores, jewelers, some nice bookstores and of course some chocolatiers where you can buy a real Belgian chocolate.
- Seasonal sales offer discounts of up to 70% in January and July. Expect the city to be extremely busy, especially on weekends.
- 1 Truffle, Louis Melsensstraat 14 (One block north of Bondgenotenlaan), ☎ 32 16 23 06 42. A small independent chocolate shop specializing in truffles in both conventional and unconventional flavors. Cash only.
How to have fun
Where to eat
In general, you should really make an effort to find a horrible meal in Leuven. Most of the restaurants are tasty and relatively cheap (for Belgium), given the student population. Many Belgians enjoy french fries and snacks in one Frietkot if you are looking for a quick and cheap meal. Try the North Sea mussels, during the season (roughly between August and March). Every year you will see large signs announcing their arrival in front of many restaurants. Smoking is not allowed in the restaurants.
The most common and largest restaurants are located right next to the town hall on the Grote Markt.
Look for cheaper restaurants in theOude Markt (old market) because that's where the student population mostly enjoys their meal. There are many small restaurants and bars (the old market is sometimes called the longest bar in Europe), but they all stop serving food after 10pm.
There are many good restaurants and a great atmosphere (eating out during the summer is a must!) Muntstraat, with very different styles from classic Belgian French to "Mexican", Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese cuisine. But these restaurants on this street are quite expensive.
Parijsstraat it has some restaurants with a nice atmosphere.
The Martelarenplein it hosts many restaurants and bars within walking distance of the train station.
The cheapest choice is the student cellars called Alma, serving pretty decent food for the whole meal for less than 7-10 euros (two in the center, one on campus and several small ones). KU Leuven students get a discount, which makes each meal cheaper by 5 €.
Where stay
Safety
Leuven is a very safe and clean city with very low crime rates.
In general, there are no unsafe spots in the city to avoid. The streets are safe, even at night, although public gardens are best avoided at night. Of course, it is recommended that you take the usual precautions. If you have a bicycle, make sure it is secured with a decent lock as students tend to "borrow" bikes. Likewise, jackets left unattended could be at risk.
The city center police station is located next to the Grote Markt town hall. Don't hesitate to come in if you have any questions. Police usually patrol by car and on foot, and most of the time anonymously, instead of walking around in uniform (especially at night). Try to avoid the area around Sint-Maartensdal and De Bruul (located between Brouwersstraat and Pereboomstraat). There are also some spots in the Kessel-Lo suburb that are best avoided at night. (Casablanca and Vredespleintje)
Beware that the police are particularly strict in the case of violations of the code (even those made on a bicycle!), For violent behavior and public disturbance.
Note that Belgium and the Netherlands have different drug regulations. Marijuana is not officially allowed, although it is tolerated when made at home. An adult can never have more than they need for their "personal use". Expect more quantities to be confiscated if they are found by the police and you risk being punished.
Leuven is a student city, and therefore has had a history of minor vandalism (trash thrown around, throwing beer cans) and public drunkenness. Lately, this situation has improved since talks have been created between locals, student organizations and police. Therefore, it is advisable to keep a low profile on the streets at night, as the police will act accordingly.
Health
- 6 Gasthuisberg hospital (Gasthuisberg Leuven Ziekenhuis), ☎ 32 16 33 22 11. it is the largest hospital in Belgium and is located right along the ring road.
- 7 Heilig Hart Regional Hospital (Regionaal Ziekenhuis Heilig Hart), Naamsestraat 105, ☎ 32 16 20 92 11. it is located in the city center.
For the smallest health problems, Belgians usually go to their family doctor. Ask your hotel, hostel or guide for information on the nearest doctor. Going to the emergency room for small health problems will not only cost but will also take longer to get help (around 45 minutes).
Leuven literally has a pharmacy on every corner. You cannot buy medicines in a supermarket.
How to keep in touch
Around
- Natural areas of Kessel-Lo: Kesselse mountains, Provinciedomein Kessel-Lo park.
Useful information
- 8 Information Office (Toerisme Leuven), Naamsestraat 3, ☎ 32 16 20 30 20. Mon-Sun 10 am-5pm.
