Leuven, 20 minutes by train from Brussels, is ideal for a half day excursion destination. It has a rich architectural heritage which can be visited on foot perfectly, and the vast majority of sights are near the Grote Markt. Their status makes college town is full of pubs and cafes also suitable for those who love the night partying.
See Belgium 3: Leuven and Brussels II in a larger map
Again we had a good breakfast at our B & B and took the metro to the Gare Centrale. The return journey by train to Leuven worth € 10. We had to wait a long time, it was the only time during the whole trip we suffer a railway delay. They were just over 10 in the morning when we arrived at the Flemish city, and after walking about ten minutes we were in the middle. Leuven revolves around a large square, the Grote Markt, the medieval mansions surrounded by some fifteenth-century origin. At that time the square was very lively, as there was a Slovak folk group in their traditional costumes, dancing and singing. And is that during Holy Week an international Folklore Festival held in Leuven.
Grote Markt
floclórico Slovak group in the Grote Markt
However, in the Grote Markt there were two buildings that immediately caught our attention, Stadhuis and St. Pieters. The Stadhuis or town hall is by far the most spectacular of the two, and is a jewel of Gothic of the fifteenth century. Its facade is overloaded towers, pinnacles, reliefs, statues, gargoyles ... It was very spectacular, all a must!
Stadhuis
Stadhuis, detail
We went into the tourist information point was on the Stadhuis where we were told we could go inside, but only by two guided tours a day. We decided not to wait for us and go to discover the other outstanding monument of the Grote Markt, St. Pieters. This Gothic church dates from the fifteenth century, and its facade did not find anything spectacular compared to the Stadhuis, partly because of its two towers that were half done. Yes we found the most beautiful part of the apse with its elegant arches.
St. Pieters
The interior was very spacious and was lit by large side windows. Most impressive was the structure separating the choir from the nave, which was finely carved reliefs. In the chorus was installed treasury had to pay to enter input. It was the part that had more works of art, which should appeal to those skilled in the subject but it did leave us something indifferent.
St. Pieters, inside
The farthest memorial center is the Groot Begijnhof, about ten minutes at a good pace. We went for the Naamsestraat, a street full of historic colleges such as Pauluscollege and churches like St. Michelis (XVIII century) (XVI century).
Naamsestraat
Eventually we reached the Groot Begijnhof, a large enclosed grounds full of charming houses, all alike. Here lived the Beguine, wealthy widows who wished to make a fully Christian life without giving up their wealth. So it was a miniature city, which was self basics. The great state of conservation of their homes seventeenth century earned him the declaration of World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Groot Begijnhof
Groot Begijnhof
In the Groot Begijnhof are not just tourists, and that made our walk through its narrow streets very nice. Its red brick houses, its beautiful canal, gardens ... distilled peace and quiet, just what we needed their current tenants, college students.
Groot Begijnhof
Groot Begijnhof
We returned to the center and were a pleasant pedestrian walking through the streets with their shops, cafés and restaurants while. The more we liked and were Parijstraat Brusselestraat.
Parijsstraat
Brusselestraat
Lunchtime so we approached one of the most popular areas, Oude Markt approached. In a tourist brochure advertised it as the "greatest wet bar in Europe." And this charming little square has many bars with terraces. As it was sunny we chose the Metropole, where we noticed some sandwiches and a Stella Artois, the famous beer brewed in Leuven.
Oude Markt
eating at the Metropole, Oude Markt
In just over three hours we conclude the visit to the city and back to the station to catch the train back to Brussels. This time we wanted to make ready and caught a train that stopped at the airport before continuing the road to Gare Centrale. But it was a bad decision because it was a good time standing there and it took much longer to reach the capital.
In Brussels, our intention was to see some of the most remote parts of the center that had not seen the day before. We were weighing approach Heysel to see the Atomium, but had read many negative reviews of the area. So we decided on the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the neighborhood of the European Union.
See Belgium 3: Leuven and Brussels II in a larger map
Again we had a good breakfast at our B & B and took the metro to the Gare Centrale. The return journey by train to Leuven worth € 10. We had to wait a long time, it was the only time during the whole trip we suffer a railway delay. They were just over 10 in the morning when we arrived at the Flemish city, and after walking about ten minutes we were in the middle. Leuven revolves around a large square, the Grote Markt, the medieval mansions surrounded by some fifteenth-century origin. At that time the square was very lively, as there was a Slovak folk group in their traditional costumes, dancing and singing. And is that during Holy Week an international Folklore Festival held in Leuven.
Grote Markt
floclórico Slovak group in the Grote Markt
However, in the Grote Markt there were two buildings that immediately caught our attention, Stadhuis and St. Pieters. The Stadhuis or town hall is by far the most spectacular of the two, and is a jewel of Gothic of the fifteenth century. Its facade is overloaded towers, pinnacles, reliefs, statues, gargoyles ... It was very spectacular, all a must!
Stadhuis
Stadhuis, detail
We went into the tourist information point was on the Stadhuis where we were told we could go inside, but only by two guided tours a day. We decided not to wait for us and go to discover the other outstanding monument of the Grote Markt, St. Pieters. This Gothic church dates from the fifteenth century, and its facade did not find anything spectacular compared to the Stadhuis, partly because of its two towers that were half done. Yes we found the most beautiful part of the apse with its elegant arches.
St. Pieters
The interior was very spacious and was lit by large side windows. Most impressive was the structure separating the choir from the nave, which was finely carved reliefs. In the chorus was installed treasury had to pay to enter input. It was the part that had more works of art, which should appeal to those skilled in the subject but it did leave us something indifferent.
St. Pieters, inside
The farthest memorial center is the Groot Begijnhof, about ten minutes at a good pace. We went for the Naamsestraat, a street full of historic colleges such as Pauluscollege and churches like St. Michelis (XVIII century) (XVI century).
Naamsestraat
Eventually we reached the Groot Begijnhof, a large enclosed grounds full of charming houses, all alike. Here lived the Beguine, wealthy widows who wished to make a fully Christian life without giving up their wealth. So it was a miniature city, which was self basics. The great state of conservation of their homes seventeenth century earned him the declaration of World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Groot Begijnhof
Groot Begijnhof
In the Groot Begijnhof are not just tourists, and that made our walk through its narrow streets very nice. Its red brick houses, its beautiful canal, gardens ... distilled peace and quiet, just what we needed their current tenants, college students.
Groot Begijnhof
Groot Begijnhof
We returned to the center and were a pleasant pedestrian walking through the streets with their shops, cafés and restaurants while. The more we liked and were Parijstraat Brusselestraat.
Parijsstraat
Brusselestraat
Lunchtime so we approached one of the most popular areas, Oude Markt approached. In a tourist brochure advertised it as the "greatest wet bar in Europe." And this charming little square has many bars with terraces. As it was sunny we chose the Metropole, where we noticed some sandwiches and a Stella Artois, the famous beer brewed in Leuven.
Oude Markt
eating at the Metropole, Oude Markt
In just over three hours we conclude the visit to the city and back to the station to catch the train back to Brussels. This time we wanted to make ready and caught a train that stopped at the airport before continuing the road to Gare Centrale. But it was a bad decision because it was a good time standing there and it took much longer to reach the capital.
In Brussels, our intention was to see some of the most remote parts of the center that had not seen the day before. We were weighing approach Heysel to see the Atomium, but had read many negative reviews of the area. So we decided on the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the neighborhood of the European Union.
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