Leuven

The celebrations for the 600 years of Leuven's university (KU Leuven) have just started (on February 14-15th), so I feel this is the best occasion for a new review to shed more light upon this slumbering proposal! 

There is a slight approximation in this reckoning, as the existence of the university was not continuous, and three institutions followed on another during the centuries, so that the current one (KU = katholieke universiteit, but it is more and more used as an "empty acronym") is not the same one that was founded back in 1425. However, now as in the 15th century, it represents the main driving force of Leuven, its presence overlapping with the whole city and beyond, and attracting students and scholars from everywhere (including me). It has even spawned, as it were, a new city-university in 1968, the Université Catholique in Louvain-la-Neuve, some 25 kms to the south beyond the linguistic border! Few other stories exemplify the modern essence of Belgium as this one.

Now, it is true that Leuven already boasts 2 WHS locations (a belfort in Sint Pieter and the great beguinage) and a stunning Gothic town hall (closed for renovations for the coming years), but neither is part of this tentative nomination. Or better: today the great beguinage is owned by the university and used as an ensemble of residences, but it was a completely different entity for centuries, and as such is not even nominated in the dossier. Apart from KU's main downtown buildings …

I had an opportunity to thoroughly visit this pleasant little University town in September 2019 beacause of the conference organized by KU Leuven (KU = Catholic University). Thus, I could explore the buildings belonging to KU located in the town center quite intensively. As the University is an inseparable part of Leuven, there are a lot of buildings used by KU scattered all around Leuven. While most of the lectures took place in modern buildings - the largest was Pieter de Somer Aula, we had opportunity to visit also huge late gothic University Hall during poster sessions. The Hall is located very close to Oude Markt (PHOTO - the building with tall roof on the right side belongs to KU and it is adjacent to University Hall, and in the middle one can see the Belfry of Leuven - WHS!!!) and also to the world-famous Town Hall. Unfortunately, I could see the impresive Library only from outside - the building is really expansive and it is hard to believe that it is really a library.

Even though Leuven is nice and worth-visiting, I cannot see any OUV in its University. No building belonging to the University is truly exceptional, and I mean not only old buildings but also modern ones. Furthermore, there are already two other WHS in Leuven! The University town of Leuven lacks the monumentality of WHS Coimbra and the spirit/integrity of still-not-inscribed Cambridge&Oxford, and does not stand out when compared to other University towns in Europe …

A short trip from Brussels by car or train. Interesting university city but does not deserve WHS status IMHO.

Whilst I am not sure if Leuven would add much to a World Heritage list that is already pretty full of nice European cities, this university town really has a lot to reward visitors. My fond memories owe a lot to the fact that I have made some great friends at the university, which is a really great seat of European learning. Even if you do not know students here the university is a very important part of the city. Many of its buildings are architectural highlights, especially the library. Secondly, and somewhat intangibly, the large amount of students give this city a great atmosphere.

The architectural highlight of the city is the Stadthuis, on the Groot Markt, which has to stand as one of the highlights of secular Gothic architecture. Its masses of statues and flags are really quite exceptional. Alkso on the square is one of the already inscribed Belfries. The wonderful Oude Markt is just around the corner and really is beautiful, and full to bursting point with bars and cafes.

Those that have been to Belgium would probably know of its Beer culture, nowhere is this better expressed than in Leuven. The large InBev Brewery on the outskirts is perhaps the most famous, but the great Domus brewery-pub is one of my favourites.

I really love Leuven but I am not sure if it would really add much to the World Heritage List, there are plenty of well preserved medium sized European cities on the list …