| General summary of the city: | | | | known as Beleuvenissen play more jazz and blue, folk |
| Leuven (Louvain in French) is a university town and the | | | | and classical concerts. Come August, and you can |
| capital city of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. | | | | see the rise of pop fever in this city with interntional |
| The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Catholic Univeristy | | | | pop and rock bands coming together for the rock |
| of Leuven) is the oldest catholic univeristy in the world. | | | | festival Marktrock. If you are into sports especially |
| It is also one of the world's oldest universities. With | | | | football, then you can pay a visit to the Oud-Heverlee |
| respect to the adage "old is gold", the univeristy which | | | | Leuven, a Belgian football club, from the municipality of |
| is the hallmark of Leuven, is one of the most beautiful | | | | Leuven. You can also head to listening to some |
| sights in the whole of Europe. | | | | pleasing orchestra like the famous Arenberg |
| An ancient town Leuven, grew industrially from 11th | | | | Orchestra in Leuven. |
| century onwards. The town soon became famous for | | | | Food and Drink: |
| linen production (known as lewyn, then) by the late 15th | | | | The Belle Epoque and the Orange par Roland Debuyst |
| century. Historians argue that linen is actually a | | | | restaurants are famous for gourmand delights. Also |
| corruption of the word "leuven". By the 18th century, | | | | famous is the French restaurant offering the best in |
| the Beer brewing industry came into existence. The | | | | French cuisine called Ramberg Hof. Oesterbar is |
| local "Stella Artois" brand of beer became a household | | | | another beautiful eatery offering the choices of |
| name. Things turned out even better for Stella Artois | | | | seafood and oysters for people who love seafood. |
| when it merged with the Walloon based brewer | | | | Since the place is famous for its cosmopolitian outlook, |
| Piedboeuf to manufacture Interbrew. The brand | | | | Leuven brims with the choicest international and ethic |
| Interbrew grew exponentially as one of the most | | | | cuisinE ranigng from Italian, Mexican, Spanish to |
| famous brewing companies in the world offering some | | | | Chinese, Moghlai and Indian. There are around 1765 |
| of the most popular beer brands in Europe. Couple of | | | | cafes and more than 215 restaurants in Leuven. The |
| years ago, Interbrew merged with a Brazilian brewer | | | | quality standards for food and drink are quite high as |
| AmBew to merge InBev which is now the largest and | | | | they are strictly monitored under the watchful eyes of |
| the most popular brewer company in the world with a | | | | the Leuven Catering Inspectorate. |
| sizeable marketshare. | | | | The popular starters consists of soupe à la |
| The city of Leuven suffered setbacks during the | | | | bière (beer soup) made with chicken stock and |
| World Wars and the library of the university was | | | | onions; a cold pate made of veal, pork and rabbit; |
| destroyed and rebuilt twice. Ten percent of the | | | | flamiche, a tasty cheese pie with leeks or onions; and |
| students attending the university in Leuven are | | | | tomatoes filled with mayonnaise and shrimps. The main |
| international students. All in all, Leuven is an historically | | | | course include chicken stew or fish stew, lean beef |
| gifted intellectual place for learning and spreading of | | | | cooked in a casserole with onion and beer among |
| knowledge. | | | | other favorites. A popular sweet dish is the Gaufres |
| Places of interest: | | | | which are waffles served with chocolate syrup or icing |
| St.Peter's Church on Grotte Markt ( Great Market | | | | sugar. Frijtes is a popular snack here. |
| Square) founded in the later part of the tenth century | | | | Like the rest of Belgium, beer reigns high among the list |
| is a Gothic building. The Church bore the brunt of | | | | of favorite drinks in Leuven, the most popular brand |
| warfare during the world wars and had to be | | | | being the good ol' Stella Artois. There is also a good |
| renovated. The best part about the church is the | | | | demand for French and Luxembourg variety of wines. |
| treasury of St.Peter which houses the 15th century | | | | Other popular drinks are gin and coffee. Leuven |
| paintings like the "The Last Supper" and the | | | | Peckhke gin with peach juice and Leuvens Nootje, gin |
| "Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus". | | | | with hazel nut are quite popular among jins. Popular |
| The Grotte Markt and the Oude Markt (Old Market) | | | | brands of Coffee are Margogyp and Mysore. |
| reflect the ethos and splendor of the 15th and 16th | | | | Hotel and Accomodation: |
| century BC. No visitor worth his salt should miss the | | | | Het Klooster Hotel |
| Stadhuis, the townhall of Grott Markt. The Stadhuis is | | | | Hotel Ibis Leuven Centrum |
| the most beautiful building in Leuven and one of the | | | | Hotel New Damshire |
| most popular structures of Belgium. You can take a | | | | Begijnhof Congreshotel |
| guided tour of the Stadhuis everyday from 3pm. During | | | | Hotel Binnenhof |
| the months of April through September, the Stadhuis is | | | | Theater Hotel Leuven Centrum |
| open for guided tours from 11 am on weekdays. | | | | Entertainment: |
| The Beguinages built during the period between the | | | | You can take your kids or friends to a beautiful |
| 13th and 16th century are the collection of small buiding | | | | recreational partk known as Kessel-Lo Provincial |
| used by Beguines. They were more than 300 women | | | | Recreation Park. Children can have a gala time playing, |
| during those times who lived religious lives, without | | | | riding electric boats, driving mini-cars etc. You can |
| taking monastic vows. A visit to the Beguinage | | | | indulge in row-boating, pedal boating, go-karts and |
| reminds people of how these sisters dedicated their | | | | playing to your heart's content in a spalsh pool. For |
| lives to God without isolating themselves from the | | | | sports afficionados, there are football pitches, |
| world. Quite recently the Beguinages have been able | | | | basketball and volleybal courts, a tennis court, two |
| to hold public interest because of their inclusion to the | | | | skate ramps and a roller skating rink. The eco-house |
| World Heritage List by UNESCO. | | | | along with a permanent water exhibition attract a lot of |
| Things to do: | | | | visitor attention. Those who love nature can also find |
| Leuven is one place which can make you feel young. | | | | peace and solace watching the greenery, the tree |
| There is a continous feeling of learning and education. | | | | orchard and the blooming flower garden in the |
| No prizes for guessing why; Leuven is a "student city" | | | | recreation park. |
| with most of the citizens being students. The Old | | | | Those who prefer night entertainment, can visit some |
| Market is famous for bars and cafés. Onder den | | | | of the zaniest bars which are found around the Oude |
| Toog is well known for being Belgium's smallest bar | | | | Markt and the Grott Mart. For people who love |
| and a haven visitors who want to absorb the folklore | | | | shopping, there is the Fochplein, which is famous for |
| and ambience of the Louven culture. | | | | popular shops selling everything from food to outfits. |
| A visitor cannot afford to miss the Rock Werchter | | | | There are also some smaller shops in the market area |
| festival held for three days in July. Though the city | | | | which sell interesting as well as commonplace items. |
| radiates a Catholic sentiment, the festivals in Leuven | | | | Be it the park, the bars, the museums or the univeristy; |
| do not have any religious or historic appeal. They are | | | | the sheer magnetism and the chemisty of Leuven is |
| purely indulged in for fun, merriment and get-togethers. | | | | quite entertaining. The friendly hospitality of the |
| The Rock Werchter features rock bands from parts | | | | students of Leuven, the humor and the camaraderie |
| of Europe and the USA. The other music festival | | | | shown by them to visitors is really commendable. |