BELGIUM city of LEUVEN part 1

BELGIUM city of LEUVEN part 1.

Leuven is a city in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant and is located on the Dyle river.

Leuven is also famous as the seat of the Catholic University of Leuven, the oldest university in the Dutch provinces, also called Flanders.
Because of the centuries-long presence of both the Artois brewery as student life Leuven is also called the beer capital of Flanders / Belgium.

There’s a reason why Fonske has a book in one hand and a beer in the other. The full name of the little statue standing right in front of the monumental Saint-Peters church is Fons Sapientiae, This is the Latin word for ‘’source of wisdom’’. Fonske represents a student at the largest and oldest university of the Low Countries, the University of books with the delight of beer. Welcome to Leuven, thirsty for knowledge and more.

It may be a small city but it’s just as impressive as the Brussels capital: one cannot ignore the Gothic style grandeur of the Town Hall built in 1448 and in 1469 it was updated with 236 small statues, representing local historical figures and patron saints. Fortunately this building survived both World Wars. There is a mix of old masters and contemporary art and you get the best view of the landmark building - University’s central Library. After the Second World War- unfortunately many books were burned – it was rebuilt and with the financial support from the Americans, as you will be able to read from the inscriptions on the stones. The polyester scarab on a 75-foot high steel needle on the square in front of the library was created by artist Jan Fabre.

The 63 clocks of the carillon, housed in the tower of the university library, weigh 35 tons, making it the second heaviest in the country. Every 15 minutes you can hear a short time sign, this was based on the traditional Flemish song Reuzegom. A carillon is a musical instrument typically housed in a Bell Tower of a church or Municipal building. The instrument has at least 23 cup shaped bells which produce a melody. During the academic year, there’s a performance every Tuesday and Thursday from 19. 00 – 19. 45. In summer, all the carillon concerts are presented in Leuven bells, the Thematic evenings at M’s rooftop terrace and in the picturesque Unesco –protected be’guinage. For a more contemporary musical experience head towards concert hall Het Depot, a renovated cinema hall offering the best quality in sound for your musical nights.