Page 204 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

202  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

3 Walibi institution opened in 1980. Its
campus is an ingenious
Blvd de L’Europe, Wavre; 15 km (9
miles) E of Waterloo. Road Map D2. complex raised above road
Tel (010) 421500. £ Open Easter– level. There are two museums to
Oct; see website for details. & 7 attract visitors. The Musée L à
0 - = ∑ walibi.be Louvain-la-Neuve presents
selections from its rich
Named after the three collection of donations to the
surrounding communities, university. These include prints
Wavre, Limal and Bierges, as well and paintings (from Dürer to
as the Australian marsupial that Magritte and Delvaux),
is its mascot, Walibi is one of sculpture of all eras and
Belgium’s most popular theme various fascinating historical,
parks. It has a host of heart- anthropological and scientific
stopping rides plus many gentler artifacts. The Musée Hergé
attractions, traditional fairground occupies a striking, prism-
rides and live shows. The park shaped building. It celebrates
also includes a large swimming the life and work of the creator
Statue by Jean-Michel Folon at the complex called Aqualibi, with of Tintin through a collection of
Fondation Folon, Domaine Solvay various pools, hot baths, Jacuzzis artworks and exhibitions.
and themed rapids.
2 Fondation Folon E Musée L à Louvain-la-Neuve
Place des Sciences. Tel (010) 474841.
Ferme du Château de la Hulpe, Drève 4 Louvain-la-Neuve Open Tue–Sun. & ∑ museelin.be
de la Ramée, La Hulpe; 10 km (6 miles)
SE of Brussels. Road Map C2. Tel (02) 16 km (10 miles) SE of Waterloo. E Musée Hergé
6533456. @ Open 9am–5pm Tue–Fri, Road Map D2. * 32,000. £ @ Rue du Labrador 26. Tel (010) 488421.
10am–6pm Sat & Sun. & 7 0 = n Galerie des Halles; (010) 474747. Open 10:30am–6pm Tue–Sun. & 7
∑ fondationfolon.be ( Tue & Sat. ∑ uclouvain.be 0 = ∑ museeherge.com
The Domaine Solvay is a large The origin of the university
and beautiful park with wood- town of Louvain-la-Neuve is 5 Folx-les-Caves
land and lakes, and an elegant linked to Belgium’s oldest Rue Auguste Baccus 35; 32 km
château dating from 1842. This university, in Leuven (see pp164– (20 miles) E of Louvain-la-Neuve.
estate was once owned by the 5), in Dutch-speaking Flanders. Road Map D2. Tel (081) 813620.
philanthropic mega-industrialists, Until the 1920s, courses at the Open by appointment only; phone
the Solvay family. In 1972, the University of Leuven were held ahead. & ∑ folx-les-caves.com
family gave the estate to the in French, causing resentment
nation and the château is in the Flemish community. In the soft tufa rock beneath
now used for recep tions Following riots, teaching in Orp-Jauche, in the fertile
and seminars. Dutch was introduced, but in Hesbaye (Haspengouw) region,
The old farm complex the 1960s protesters demanded an extraordinary labyrinth of
located on the domain is now that French be abandoned underground caves has been
the Fondation Folon – a large altogether. The authorities then excavated by human hands
exhibition centre that celebrates decided to build a completely since Neolithic times. They now
the life and work of Belgian new university at Ottignies, in cover an area of 6 ha (15 acres).
painter, illus trator and sculptor French-speaking Wallonia, Over the centuries, the caves
Jean-Michel Folon (1934–2005). called Louvain-la-Neuve have been used as dwellings,
Folon’s deceptively simple style, (New Leuven). The a quarry for phosphates
using bright watercolour washes
and stylized figures, is instantly
recognizable. Over his career,
Folon was much in demand
as the creator of prints, posters,
magazine covers and stamps.
His art is hugely popular and
is noted for its wry, poetic
comments about the human
condition. With numerous
examples of his work,
audiovisual pre sentations,
installations and beguiling
sculpture, Fondation Folon
is a museum that delights
visitors of all ages. Walibi’s wallaby mascot welcoming visitors to the theme park
For hotels and restaurants see pp269–70 and pp289–90

202-203_EW_Belgium.indd 202 18/10/16 3:02 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm