Russian Belgium. Open left menu Leuven Excursion to the Stella Artois brewery
- We recommend starting your acquaintance with the city with a visit, located in the very center of Leuven. The cathedral was built in 1497 and is therefore considered the oldest church in the city. Today, the temple houses a museum that houses works of art, jewelry and much more. In the adjacent territory there are burial places of reigning persons and members of their families.
- No less exciting will be a walk in Church of St. Anthony. The exact date of construction of the temple is unknown, but it is believed to be 1572. The outside of the church is plastered and has no decorative elements, but inside it preserved frescoes by famous masters of that time and an altar made of marble, which are of great historical value.
- An excursion to Leuven Town Hall, erected in the second half of the 15th century. The town hall building is recognized as the most luxurious in the whole world, because the great architects Keldermans, Lauens, Van der Vorst worked on its construction. The facade is decorated with scenes from the Bible, statues, windows and towers. Inside, it is divided into three thematic tiers, each of which is open to the public.
- You can enjoy the splendor of Belgian nature in, which was founded in 1738. The garden was originally used as an experimental site for medical students, but over time its role changed. Today, over 800 plant species grow here, including medicinal herbs, shrubs, and trees.
- It is not for nothing that Leuven is considered the educational center of the country, because it was here that the oldest educational institution was founded in 1425. Nowadays, its graduates become mathematicians, astrophysicists, philosophers, humanists, theologians, many of them are successful figures with a worldwide reputation.
- In the vicinity of Leuven there is another significant one, the first mention of which dates back to the 11th century. Today, tourists see a noble building, made in brown tones and having a pair of towers with pointed roofs. On one of the walls there is a balcony where the dukes loved to relax.
- The central place of the city is considered Ladeuse Square, named after the rector of the Catholic University of Leuven. While walking along it, pay attention to the Totem sculpture created by Jan Fabre, but its main attraction is the library building of the Catholic University, whose height reaches 87 meters.
There are still many attractions in Leuven that are worth visiting. For example, the fashionable club Silo, known for promoting electronic music, numerous breweries, parks, and public gardens. Therefore, while vacationing in Belgium, be sure to visit this beautiful city.
Dynamic and prosperous Leuven is the main city of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. This ancient capital - home to the Dukes of Brabant since 1200 - was an important trading center during the Middle Ages. Currently, Leuven is a large university city that comes alive during the academic year (from late September to June). The University of Leuven, with about 30 thousand students annually, is considered the oldest Catholic university in the world (founded in 1425), and the historical city center is one of the most beautiful in Belgium.
Leuven is the starting point for exploring the rest of the country, with Brussels practically around the corner and the Flemish Coast just an hour and a half away by train; Other cities nearby are Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Liege, Mechelen and Hasselt.
Recently, more and more tourists are visiting Leuven, because almost “homey” conditions have been created here for them: lively nightlife, interesting historical monuments, a world-famous university and two shopping streets that go off to infinity.
How to get there
Excursion to the Stella Artois brewery
During a tour of the plant, anyone can learn all about the secrets of making beer, following the brewing process at the stages of fermentation, filtration and packaging. The cost of the tour is 8.50 EUR per person in a group of 15 people or more. Information and reservations on the website
Where: University of Leuven, Belgium.
To the smart one: Leuven-la-Neuve is a real scientific city with residential areas, theaters, shops and 200 research offices of high-tech companies.
For tourists: The architecture of the technopolis is reminiscent of the garden of ancient Greek philosophers - everything is surrounded by greenery, even the parking lots. The city's districts are named: Einstein, Fleming, Monet and Athena.
Sophia Antipolis
Where: Cote d'Azur, France.
To the smart one: IBM and Hitachi work here, as well as two hundred other simpler companies. On the territory there are several hotels, educational institutions - from kindergartens to Swahili courses, residential areas, beauty salons, etc.
For tourists: The technopolis is adjacent to a national natural park, which, in turn, is adjacent to several picturesque villages. Wild boars often wander into the technopolis, flocks of bats fly even more often, and the residents of Sophia Antipolis are proud of them.
Medicon Valley
Where: Sweden and Denmark.
To the smart one: not just a technopolis, but an entire interstate cluster thinking about the health of humanity. About 300 medical, biotech and pharmaceutical companies are concentrated here.
For tourists: medical tourism to Medicon Valley is the best investment if you are a retired millionaire.
Zhongguancun
Where: northwest part of Beijing, China.
To the smart one: specialization - information technology. Minimum green spaces, Chinese geniuses work better without distractions.
For tourists: science is science, but no one canceled the flea market. In Zhongguancun you can buy the craziest new electronics-related products cheaply. Most development companies have their own shops with display windows, where you will find not only original products, but also fake fashion brands that work even better than these same brands.
Silicon Valley
Where: California, USA.
To the smart one: the legendary homeland of almost everything you hold dear (except mom and dad).
For tourists: Steve Jobs's house, Stanford University, the offices of Twitter, Google and Facebook, the Computer History Museum, hundreds of co-working spaces - enterprising Americans have made everything accessible to the average person, so long as he doesn't forget to spend money on Coke and Big Macs while looking around.
Indian Silicon Valley
Where: Bangalore, India.
To the smart one: India loves to be called the next global powerhouse, which is why in the last 15 years alone more than 200 companies, such as Cisco or Intel, have opened offices in Bangalore. And Google and Microsoft opened a research center.
For tourists: the amazing juxtaposition of the world of high technology with the world of slums, violence, dirt and careless fun.
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.
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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 rough 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.
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