The center of Europe offers us many interesting places to visit. There are a lot of beautiful and lively cities, not too big and not too busy, that will give us a few days of pleasure and fun. Like, for example, the Belgian city of Leuven in the heart of Flanders. Just 27 kilometers from Brussels, it is the perfect destination to plan a weekend getaway. And it is that this university city par excellence has much to offer: above all, its happy and youthful atmosphere.
Beer lovers also have another incentive to travel to Leuven, as the city has a long brewing tradition . The typical one is the Stella Artois and tasting it in any of its terraces when the good weather arrives is one of the greatest pleasures for locals and tourists.
University City
The University of Leuven is one of the biggest attractions in the city, giving it a fun student atmosphere . Founded in 1425, none other than Erasmus of Rotterdam taught there. You can not stop visiting it.
Other interesting places are the Plaza Mayor or Grote Marka . It is in the center of Leuven and houses historic buildings dating back to the 15th century. In it you can also find the church of San Pedro , where many classical music concerts are held, and the Town Hall .
The Great Beguinage
The city has other jewels that are also worth a visit such as the Church of St. Michael , the Hall of Tissues , the Van Dale College and the Great Beguinage , one of the most prominent in all of Flanders.
It is a group of about 85 brick houses (most of them built between 1630 and 1670), spread over more than ten streets and surrounded by a wall. Formerly women could enter there as pious women and dedicate themselves to prayer. They also worked in cultivation work or care for the sick. Declared a World Heritage Site in 2000, today it serves as a residence for students and professors of the University.