Landmarks in Leuven, Belgium

The Belgian town of Leuven is located on the banks of the River Daile near the capital of the state and is considered one of its largest educational centers. Popularity in the tourist environment, he found recently, but the visitors have something to see. Let's talk about the most famous sights of Leuven in Belgium .

What to see in the city?

1. It is recommended to begin acquaintance with the city with a visit to the Church of St. Peter , located in the very center of Leuven. The cathedral was built in 1497 and is therefore considered the oldest church in the city. Nowadays, a museum is opened in the church, which contains works of art, jewelry and much more. In the adjoining territory there are burials of reigning individuals and members of their families.
2. No less exciting is a walk to the Church of St. Anthony . The exact date of the construction of the temple is unknown, but it is presumably 1572 year. Outside, the church is plastered and has no decor elements, however, there are frescos of famous masters of that time and an altar made of marble that are of great historical value.
3. A visit to the Levensky Town Hall , erected in the second half of the 15th century, will help to open another page of Belgian history. The Town Hall building is recognized as the most luxurious in the whole world, because 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 for visits.
4. Enjoy the splendor of the Belgian nature can be found in the Botanical Garden of Leuven , which was founded in 1738. Initially, the garden was used as an experimental site for medical students, but over time its role changed. Today, there are over 800 plant species, among which there are medicinal herbs, bushes, trees.
5. Leven is considered to be the educational center of the country, because here in 1425 was founded the oldest educational institution - the Catholic University of Leuven . Nowadays, his graduates become mathematicians, astrophysicists, philosophers, humanists, theologians, many of them are successful figures of world renown.
6. In the vicinity of Leuven is another important Belgian landmark - the castle of Arenberg , the first mention of which dates back to the 11th century. Today, tourists are presented with a noble building, executed in brown tones and having a pair of towers with pointed roofs. On one of the walls flaunts a balcony, on which the dukes liked to rest.
7. The central place of the city is the Ladeus Square , named after the rector of the Catholic University of Leuven. Walking along it, pay attention to the sculpture "Totem", created by Jan Fabre, but its main attraction is the building of the library of the Catholic University, whose height reaches 87 meters.

In Leuven there are a lot of sights to visit. For example, Big Beguinage , fashion club Silo, famous for the promotion of electronic music, numerous breweries, parks, squares. Therefore, when vacationing in Belgium, be sure to visit this beautiful city.