Leuven

City of Leuven


Geography
Region	Flanders
Province	Flemish-Brabant
Arrondissement	Leuven
Location	50°52′N 04°42′E / 50.867°N 4.700°E / 50.867; 4.700
Area	56,63 km²
Population (Source : NIS)
Population (01/01/2005)	89.910
Men Women	44.331 (49,31%) 45.579 (50,69%)
Density	1587,62/km²
Constituent communes with postal codes
Postal Code	Commune
3000 3001 3010 3012 3018	Leuven Heverlee Kessel-Lo Wilsele Wijgmaal

Leuven listen^ⓘ (French Louvain, German Löwen) is the capital of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The actual municipality comprises the historical city of Leuven and the adjacent villages of Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, a part of Korbeek-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal. On the 1st of January, 2005 Leuven had a total population of 89,910 (44,331 males and 45,579 females). The total area amounts to 56.63 km², corresponding with a population density of 1,587.67 inhabitants per km².

History

The first mention of Leuven goes back to 891 ('Loven'), when a Viking army was defeated by the German emperor Arnulf of Carinthia. According to the city legend, its red-white-red colours depict the blood-stained shores of the river Dijle after this battle. Situated at this river and nearby the stronghold of the Dukes of Brabant, Leuven became the most important center of trade in the duchy between the 11th and the 14th century. A token of its former importance as a center of cloth manufacture, is nicely reflected in the typical Leuven linen cloth, known in late 14-15th century texts as lewyn (other spellings: Leuwyn, Levyne, Lewan(e), Lovanium, Louvain)[1].

In the 15th century a new golden era begins with the founding of the largest and oldest university in the Low Countries: the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven, or Catholic University Leuven) in 1425.

In the 18th century Leuven became even more important because of a flourishing brewery that would later become Interbrew (recently renamed to InBev), the largest brewery company in the world. In fact, InBev's Stella Artois brewery and main offices dominate the entire north-eastern part of the town, between the railway station and the canal to Mechelen.

In the 20th century, both world wars inflicted major damage to the city, destroying the university library twice. The world was outraged over this and the library was completely rebuilt after World War I with American charity funds and German war indemnities. After World War II, the burnt down building had to be restored again. It still stands tall as a symbol of the terrible wars and the Allied solidarity afterwards.

Things to see

The Town Hall, built by Sulpicius van Vorst, Jan II Keldermans and after both of them died, Matheus de Layens between 1439 and 1463 in a Brabantian late-Gothic style. The reception hall dates from 1750.
The Church of Saint Peter (1425–1500) was finished by Jan Keldermans and Matheus de Layens. During the Second World War the church was damaged; during the restoration a Romanesque crypt from the 11th Century was found. In the Church itself there are several paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries (amongst others Dirk Bouts famous painting of the last supper and the grave of Duke Henry I of Brabant. The 50 meter high tower—which was meant to be 169 meters but was never completed—is home to a carillon.
The Linen-hall in a early-Gothic style, with baroque addition, is today the University Hall.
The Church of Saint Michael was built in the typical Jesuit Baroque Style.
The Church of Saint Quinten incorporates remains of a Romanesque Church built in the 13th Century.
The University Library was built by the American architect Whitney Warren. The tower houses one of the largest carillions in the world.
There is a ducal castle dating from the 12th century on the Keizersberg ("Emperor's Mountain") which was demolished in the 17th Century. Today there is a neo-romanesque Abbey where the castle once stood.
The beguinage is one of the world's best remaining examples.
There are several other smaller churches and chapels around town.
"Fonske" is a statue near the center of town. Its full name is Fons Sapientiae, Latin for "fountain of wisdom." The statue represents a university student who, while reading a book, lets wisdom flow into his head as liquid from a glass. Just like Manneken Pis in Brussels, Fonske is from time to time dressed in costumes appropriate for the occasion.

Miscellania

Nowadays Leuven is a real "student city", as most citizens in its center are students. Leuven sports one of the liveliest bar scenes in Belgium. Besides boasting the "longest bar" in Belgium, the Old Market, tens of bars and cafés crammed into a central square in Leuven, it's also the proud home city of Belgium's smallest bar, Onder den Toog in the Noormannenstraat, a must for every visitor to Leuven seeking adventure and folklore. The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Catholic University Leuven) is considered one of the best universities in Europe. One of the orchestra formed by students is the "Arenbergorkest", allowing these young people to combine study and music. There are also a number of hogescholen (literally translated: "high schools", akin to an American community college). These hogescholen include Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven (Catholic High School Leuven) and GroepT (GroupT).

The mayor of Leuven is Louis Tobback, a socialist politician prominent on the national level who was once minister of internal affairs, among other things.

Culture

Leuven is well known for its summer rock festival Marktrock. The main football club of the municipality is Oud-Heverlee Leuven, the successor of K. Stade Leuven. Leuven also has some orchestras, like the famous Arenberg Orchestra.