Page 133 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

LEUVEN  131

P Fochplein Much of the art on permanent VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Adjacent to the Grote Markt is display is by the early Flemish
the Fochplein, a narrow trian­ Masters, including the work of Practical Information
gular square containing some of Quentin Metsys (1465–1530), * 97,300. n Naamsestraat 1,
Leuven’s most popular shops, who was born in Leuven and 3000 Leuven, (016) 20 3020.
selling everything from fashion introduced Italian style to Transport
to food. In the middle is the northern European art. £ Bondgenoten laan. @ Grote
Fons Sapienza, a modern Markt 9.
fountain that shows a student R St Michielskerk
pouring water through his Naamsestraat. Open Apr–Oct:
empty head – a pithy view of 1:30–4:30pm Tue–Sun. charming red­brick cottages
the town’s student population. One of Leuven’s most impressive (dating mostly from the 17th
churches, St Michielskerk was century) is set around the grassy
E M-Museum Leuven built for the Jesuits in the middle squares and cobbled streets near
Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28. of the 17th century. The church the River Dilje. Leuven university
Tel (016) 27 2929. Open 11am–6pm was badly damaged during World bought the complex in 1961
Fri–Tue (to 10pm Thu). & War II, but has since been carefully and converted the cottages into
∑ mleuven.be restored. Its graceful façade with student accommodation.
The former Museum Vander its flowing lines is an excellent
Kelen­Mertens has been illustration of the Baroque style.
revamped as “M” and provides a The interior is regularly open
dynamic space for high profile to visitors for three afternoons
art exhibitions. It also gives during the summer months.
credance to Leuven’s claim as a The stunning 1660 carved
major city of the arts. The original woodwork around the altar and
collection still remains in the choir are well worth seeing.
17th–18th century mansion,
which was owned by the Vander R Groot Begijnhof
Kelen­Mertens family until it was Schapenstraat. Open daily, for street
donated to the city in 1918. The access only.
rooms were refurbished in a Founded around 1230, the Groot
variety of styles, ranging from a Begijnhof, now a World Heritage
Renaissance salon to a Rococo Site, was once one of the largest
dining room, each with the béguinages in Belgium, home
appropriate antique furniture, to several hundred béguines The red-brick houses of Leuven’s Groot
silverware and ceramics. (see p57). The complex of 72 Begijnhof
Stella Artois
Brewery Train Station
Leuven Town Centre BR USSELSESTRAAT ALBER TSLAAN DIETSSESTR. 700m (650 yards)
Bus Station
KONI N G
700m (650 yards)
1 Oude Markt St Pieterskerk LEOPOLD VANDERKELENSTRAAT
BONDGENO-
TENLAAN
2 Stadhuis GROTE MARKT FOCH-
PLEIN
3 St Pieterskerk and Museum DRINKWATERSTRAAT SAVOYESTR
Schatkamer van St Pieter Stadhuis M-Museum University
Leuven
4 Stella Artois Brewery PARIJSST RAAT O UD E MAR KT T I E N S E S T R A AT Library
HERBERT
5 Fochplein M I ND ERBROEDERSSTR. HOGESCHOOLPLEIN HOOVERPLEIN
6 M­Museum Leuven
BLUIDE INKOMSTR.
7 St Michielskerk St Michielskerk C. DE B ERI OT ST R A A T
J A NSENIUSSTRAAT V L A M I N G E N S T R A A T
8 Groot Begijnhof R A M B E R G
N A A M S E S T R A A T
0 metres 300 KA RME LI ET E N BER G PA RK S TR A AT
SCHA P E EN S T RA AT H. CONSCIENCESTR.
0 yards 300
C ON STAN TI N ME UNI ERS TRAAT
Groot
Begijnhof
T E R V U U R S E V E S T
For keys to symbols see back flap

130-131_EW_Brussels.indd 131 10/01/17 11:04 am