Travel Notes: City Sights of Leuven (Louvain), Belgium

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City Sights of Leuven, Belgium

I was in Leuven (Louvain), Belgium from October 7 – 9, 2008.

Notes on Leuven, Belgium:

Leuven is very proud of its past and its heritage. The first reference to the town of Leuven can be traced back as far as the 9th century. It developed as an important trading center within the Duchy of Brabant in the 11th to 12th Century. It was at this time that its first town wall, churches, monasteries and abbeys were built. The famous University of Leuven was founded in 1425.

Below are some of the interesting sights that I have seen or visited in Leuven:

1. Stadhuis (Town Hall)

2. Sint-Pieterskerk (Saint Peter’s Church)

Saint Peter’s Church is the oldest church in Leuven. It was presumably founded in 986.

3. Tefelrond (Round Table)
This is the third most important building on the Great Market Square. It is late medieval, Gothic in origin. It is now being used as the head office of the National Bank of Belgium.

4. Saint-Antoniuskapel (Saint Anthony’s Chapel)

Saint Anthony’s Chapel is one of the many chapels built over the centuries near the five major parishes of Leuven. It was bought in 1860 by the superior of the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary who promised to turn it into a shrine to Saint Joseph. The first pilgrimage took place in 1899. Many pilgrims from over the whole country of Belgium still come mainly during the month of March.

Father Damian is buried in the crypt under the chapel. He was beatified in 1995 and in December 2005 he was elected ‘Greatest Belgian’. Visitors form all over the world come to honor his memory.

5. Railway Station

On the Leuven side of the station there is a very spacious station square and the striking red building of the bus company. Under all this you will find a beautiful and pleasant underground car park.

6. K. U. Leuven (Catholic University of Louvain)

7. Universiteitsbiliotheek (Central University Library)

During the First World War the university library, then housed in the University Hall, ws destroyed by fire. In the 1920, a new library was built in Flemish Renaissance style mainly due to American funding. The carillon in the tower – with its 63 bells, one of the largest in Belgium – is a gift of 16 American engineer associations The library houses more than three million volumes.

8. Fonske (Fons Sapientiae)
In the very heart of Leuven the eternal student Fonske (officially speaking: Fons Sapientiae, Source of Wisdom) pours “science” into his head. Deservedly he has his place in the center of Leuven. Fornske was carved by the artist Jef Claerhout (1975).


What I missed to visit in Leuven:

Beguinages

Goot Begijnhof (Great Beguinages)

The origin of the name ‘begijn’ is unclear. These women only took temporary vows of chastity and obedience to the ‘mistresses’ of their choice. As opposed to the conventuals they did not have to observe the rule of poverty and were therefore able to have private property and an income. For the remainder they provided for themselves via donations made to the ‘begijnhof’. They also generated income from teaching, healthcare, manual labor like embroidery, sewing, washing, spinning.

When the ‘beginhof’ was abolished in 1795 some 198 ‘begijnen’ lived there. The more prosperous ‘begijnen’ had a private residence. The poorer ‘begijnen’ lived together in ‘convents’, community houses. An infirmary was available for the sick and poor old ‘begijnen’.

The Groot Beginhof has the appearance of a small town in the city. It is a succession of streets, squares, gardens and parks, with tens of houses and convents in traditional brick and sandstone style. This small town was restored between 1964 and 1989 by the Catholic University of Leuven who had purchased the site in 1962 from the Social Welfare Commission. Today it houses students and university staff.

On 31 March 2000, it was officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Photo Link:

Click on the following link to view photos taken during my visit in Leuven, Belgium.

http://booleanlogic.multiply.com/photos/album/176/Visit_to_Leuven_Louvain_Belgium_October_8_2008

Suggestion: Choose the 'Slideshow' option.

Cheers,

Raffy

Travel Notes: City Sights of Brussels, Belgium

. Figure caption: A portion of Brussels' historic old city center. Source: http://www.ilotsacre.be/site/en/default_en.htm

City Sights of Brussels, Belgium

Note: I visited Brussels, Belgium on October 4 – 7, 2008.

Below are some interesting sights found in Brussels that I have visited or seen:

1. The Grand Place

The Grand Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated on former marshland, the Grand Place was a center of social, economics, and politics of Brussels from the 12th century A.D.

2. The Royal Palace

This palace is in the style of Louis XVI. Napolean Bonaparte resided in this palace and signed the Peace treaty with Russia.

3. The “Parc de Bruxelles”

This park was formerly the hunting ground of the Dukes of Brabant and was later converted into a well laid-out French garden in the 18th century. In 1830 the park was the principal battlefield where the fight between the Dutch troops and the Belgian insurgents took place.

4. The “Palais de la Nation” (Senate and House of Representatives) can be found at the northern part of the park. It was built in 1783. Originally called the Palace of the States-General in 1817 it became the Palace of the Nation after 1830.

5. The “Palais de Justice” (Law of Courts) was built from 1866 to 1883 in a mixture of Greek, Roman, and Babylonian styles. It is considered to be the biggest European building of the 19th century.

6. The “Petit Sablon” Square

This little garden situated in front of the Notre Dame des Victoires church is surrounded by wrought-iron railings. In the middle of the square stands the Egmond and Hornes’ monument – two noblemen executed by the Spaniards in 1568.

7. The Bourse (Stock Exchange)

This building was built in 1871 in a composite neoclassic and Italian Renaissance style. The French sculptor Rodin participated in the facade’s decoration.

8. Le place Royale (Royale Square)
Erected in the 18th century under the reign of Charles of Lorraine, this square is an example of “classical and proportioned urbanism.” In the middle stands the equestrian monument of Godefroid de Bouillon, first Christian King of Jerusalem. Behind the statue stands the Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg Church which was used as a “Temple of the Reason” during the French Revolution.

9. Manneken-Pis Fountain

This small bronze statuette called “the oldest citizen of the city” represents a young hero from the Brussels’ folklore. The Manneken-Pis owns a varied and abundant wardrobe which is kept at the Communal museum.

10. The Anneessens Tower
This remaining section of the 12th century ramparts stands next to the gate where the guild leader Francois Anneessens was imprisoned before his execution in 1719.

11. The “Mont des Artes”


12. The Church of Notre Dame du Sablon


13. St. Michael’s Cathedral
The cathedral features a beautiful gothic edifice which is a synthesis of the all ogival art’s periods from the 13th to the 16th century. Since the Middle Ages, the cathedral has witnessed some of the most historical events taking place in Brussels.

14. Museum of Ancient Art (Royal Museum of Fine Arts). Features paintings of ancient art. Consists mainly of the Flemish school of 14th to 17th century: Breughel, Rubens, Van Dijck, etc.

15. Musical Instruments Museum – MIM (Old England)
Features musical instruments of all periods and countries including 150 unique pieces in the world.

Photo Link:

Click on the following link to view photos taken during my visit in Brussels, Belgium:

http://booleanlogic.multiply.com/photos/album/172/A_Rainy_Sunday_in_Brussels_Belgium_Autumn_in_Europe_Part_2

Suggestion: Choose the 'Slideshow' option.



Cheers,


Raffy