Leuven

About

It’s said the red and white on Leuven’s coat of arms represents the blood-stained shores of the river Dyle after King Arnulf of Carinthia defeated a Viking army here in 891. Many of the city’s main landmarks were built in the 15th century, such as the amazing Town Hall, which is covered in statues of local historical figures. Across the square, stands the the imposing 15th century St. Peter’s Church, which, thanks to its UNESCO-listed bell-towers, was the tallest building in the world when it was built. Inside, visitors will find exceptional artwork dating back to the 15th century, the highlight of which is Dirk Bouts' famous painting of the last supper. The city’s other UNESCO World Heritage Site is the unusual Groot Begijnhof, a neighborhood built in the 13th century expressly for religious women. Most of the beautiful red-brick buildings in this idyllic quarter were built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Then, of course, there's the Stella Artois brewery - a landmark in its own right for beer lovers, which offers visitors with fascinating two-hour tour. You'll want to increase your stop time to 150 minutes and book tickets in advance at https://www.breweryvisits.com