Leuven Residences

Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium. It is located about 30 kilometers east of Brussels. The general characteristic of the city is that it is student-oriented. The fact is quite explainable as the city possesses a university which is six hundred years old with an open campus. The territory is inhabited by more than 25.000 students among which there are both keen scholars and partygoers. The latter can always have a chance to hang over in one of the city's bars. The place is nicknamed by the locals as the Old Square or Oude Markt as there are over 60 cafés in the city.

This university town is also attractive by some architectural buildings. Among such places of interest it is necessary to name Sint-Pieterskerk (Church of St Peter) and the imposing Stadhuis (town hall) on the Grote Markt; Saint-Anthony's Chapel, Pater Damiaanplein, from the 17th to the 20th centuries, contains the tomb of Father Damien, the 'leper priest' of Molokai, beatified by Pope John Paul II. The Catholic priest's remains were returned in Belgium with great fanfare in 1936 after having been originally buried on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai where he had served the outcast lepers and died. There is also a lovely Ice Rink there what is more interesting for those who prefer active rest to passive one.
Read more: guide to Leuven with maps, photos and weather conditions.

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