St. Peter's Church, Leuven
St. Peter's Church, Leuven, Gothic church in Grote Markt, Belgium
Description
St. Peter's Church is a Gothic church on Grote Markt in Leuven, Belgium, built with a cross-shaped floor plan and unfinished towers. It sits directly across from the Town Hall, and together these buildings form the center of the old city.
History
Construction began in 1425 under several architects including Sulpitius van Vorst and Jan II Keldermans, with building work continuing for more than 50 years. The extended building period and changing leadership shaped how the structure was finally completed.
Culture
The name "St. Peter" honors the chief apostle, and the interior shows how people have expressed their faith through art and design over time. You can experience this directly by walking through the space and seeing how religious works were placed to guide prayer and reflection.
Practical
You can visit during daytime hours, and it is easy to reach on foot from the Town Hall since both buildings share the main square. The surrounding area has shops and cafés, making it simple to combine your visit with exploring the rest of the city center.
Did you know?
Inside, there is a painting by Dirk Bouts from the 1460s showing the Last Supper, which has hung in its original chapel location for nearly 600 years. This continuity is remarkable because many artworks in churches have been moved or lost over time.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Leuven).
Leuven Town Hall
62 m
Fons Sapientiae
85 m
Grote Markt
36 m
University Hall
165 m
Dorre, de bakker
165 m
College van Luik
169 m
Gerechtsgebouw
125 m
Westtorens van de Sint-Pieterskerk
49 m
Autonoom Gemeentebedrijf Museum Leuven
180 m
Luxemburgcollege
253 m
Vicus Artium
253 m
St. John's pump
121 m
Drapers Guild House of Leuven
59 m
Villerscollege
198 m
Paep Thoon
205 m
House "Den Gulden Sadel"
229 m
236 statues on Leuven's Town Hall
62 m
House "Die Groote Swaene"
244 m
National Institute for Technical Education Leuven
239 m
Vissersstraat 1, Leuven
257 m
House "De Gulde Handt"
231 m
House "Die Cleyn Roode Rose"
222 m
House "Sint-Andries"
223 m
House "In de Dry Schepen"
227 m
House "Die Cleynen Pellicaen"
235 m
House "Die Groote Roose"
220 m
Vissersstraat 3-5, Leuven
258 m
Statue of Pieter Coutereel
140 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes