Groot Begijnhof Leuven — Attraction in Leuven

Very big and nice kept piece of heritage. Has an authentic feel to it. A lot of it is public, but even the private gardens are pretty to admire from the little cobblestone streets. (those streets are a bit too impractically uneven which cause you to hobble through, but it is a car free zone). By night it's only lit by lanterns hanging on the houses, so it can get quite dark. The houses are inhabited by students and professors from KU Leuven only, for a max term of 3 years, which I think is a nice way to treat the material heritage of a city. Don't miss the church, the Spanish Quarter and take your time on the little bridges across the Dijle. There are a few guides who give excellent guidance with historical information (and who are dressed...

A must-see historical site if you want to see a wonderfully restored old village compound once inhabited by hundreds of women from the religious order of the beguines. The beguinage covers a relatively large area intertwined with a river, a lot of green, magnificent historical buildings and the beguin church, open to the public. The site is inhabited by a few happy students and university professors who would be pleased with a bit of silence. In other words: a tourist location but no typical attraction for noisy kids or anyone looking for a coffee place, restaurant or souvenir shop. Only paid parking spots can be found in the near vicinity. Wheelchair access is challenging since the compound is paved with...

The begijnhof neighborhood in Leuven is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site (along with other begijnhofs in Flanders). It feels as though you’re stepping back in time while walking through the immaculately well-maintained streets admiring the old stone roads and the red brick buildings. A professor at the local university informed us that the residents are a mix of established locals as well as university students. Irrespective of the profiles of the neighborhood’s inhabitants, it is extremely serene, quiet and feels safe even walking alone late at night. While it is a good hike from the train station and a bit away from the center of town, make the trip to the begijnhof for a step...