Pearls of Leuven – Private Walking Tour
Embark on a 2-hour walking tour of Leuven and discover its captivating highlights. Explore the M Leuven art museum, admire the majestic Historical Leuven Town Hall, and marvel at the exquisite Saint Peter’s Church. Experience the tranquility of the Kruidtuin botanical garden and wander through the charming streets of Groot Begijnhof Leuven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our knowledgeable guide will share fascinating stories and insights along the way, offering a glimpse into the rich history and cultural heritage of this remarkable city. Join us for a memorable journey through Leuven’s treasures.
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M Leuven
The municipal museum operations that were launched in the early 19th century are still being run by Museum Leuven. The first museum was established in 1823 on the second floor of Leuven City Hall. A century or so later, the collection was transferred to Leuven's historic centre, to Leopold Vander Kelen's former private mansion. The M Museum's main display area is currently here. The M Museum building was refurbished before it was launched in 2009
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Historical Leuven Town hall
On Leuven's Grote Markt (Main Market) square, directly across from the enormous St. Peter's Church, stands the town hall, a well-known structure. Its beautiful, lace-like architecture is renowned for being constructed in a Brabantine Late Gothic style between 1448 and 1469. On the three sides that are visible from the Markt, the Town Hall's three main levels are framed by pointed Gothic windows. Behind the gallery parapet, a high roof with four levels of dormers rises. There are octagonal turrets at the angles of the roof that have openings that let light enter through. (Outside visit)
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Saint Peter's Church
The Brabantine Gothic-styled Saint Peter's Church, also known as Sint-Pieterskerk in Dutch, was erected in the 15th century in Leuven, Belgium. The building features a cruciform layout and a partially finished low bell tower. Its length is 93 metres (305 feet). It is situated across from the Town Hall on the city's "Grote Markt" (Grand Square). In acknowledgment of the cultural significance and aesthetic value of the belfries in the area, the church's bell tower and belfry were included in the Belfries of Belgium and France site and added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.
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Kruidtuin
Founded in 1738, the Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis (Kruidtuin in Dutch) is a botanical garden in Leuven, Belgium. It is located in the city's centre and spans 2.2 hectares. Henri-Joseph Rega, a medical professor at the University of Leuven, founded the city's first botanical garden in 1738. Herbs for medicinal purposes were its first goal. Later, the gardens were utilised for research, and a large collection of rare plants, cultivated species with commercial potential, and decorative plants were kept there.
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Groot Begijnhof Leuven
Leuven's Groot Begijnhof, which consists of a dozen streets and is a well-preserved beguinage, has undergone a thorough restoration. It is one of the largest existing beguinages in the Low Countries, measuring about 3 hectares (7.5 acres) and housing over 300 flats in approximately 100 homes. It encompasses both sides of the island created when the river Dijle separates into two canals inside the beguinage.