BELGIUM city of LEUVEN part 2
The name ' Leuven' instantly brings beer to mind. Beer culture is after all an inescapable aspect of the city. Not only is Leuven the home of Stella Artois, you will also find the longest bar in the world there at the Oude Markt, along with the domestic brewery Domus.
What locals call the lively pubs around the Oude Marks square- the city’s hotels offer special beer arrangements. Try a house-brewed Con Domus or Nostra Domus in the brasserie of the same name or De Werf for their colourful summer terrace and STUK-cafe for drinks before and after visiting the cultural centre and future ‘house for dance’, image and sound.
Every Thursday-Friday and Saturday are the busiest nightlife moments.
The Muntstraat offers the interesting culinary options but seems to be dominated by Italian pasta restaurants.
' There are too many inns in Leuven. Whatever they do has to be accompanied by drink, ' Erasmus wrote. Leuven has been associated with brewing and drinking beer for centuries. With more than 50 breweries and 600 cafés, it would be absolutely impossible to die of thirst here.
And never forget the Stella Artois brewery and the small marina at the end of Mechelen-Leuven canal. A visit to Leuven is not complete without paying a visit to one of its breweries. You can go and inspect the boiler at the giant Stella Artois brewery and at Domus, a small brewery.
Leuven also offer for Jazz lovers an annual festival around the March period but more famous is the well known called Marktrock . This is a three day party in the city centre.
Another option is taking a short walk to Opek, a former customs warehouse turned into an arts centre which is the base for the excellent local music theatre company Zhebilding. After a relaxing drink at the cafe Entrepot, you might consider a walk to park Abbaye.
It surely is one of the hidden gems of the area, offering countryside calmness, including cows, cornfields and ponds, all within walking distance from the city. Finally one can always enjoy a famous Belgian waffle or homemade ice cream in one of the many local cafes.
Leuven is a great day out with easy public transport access from the centre of Brussels or the International Zaventem Airport.
This city is geographically very close to Brussels centre, so well worth adding to your Brussels city trip.
BELGIUM city of LEUVEN part 2
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