Leuven, University city in Flemish Brabant, Belgium
Leuven is a university city in Flemish Brabant, Belgium, that spreads around the Dijle River and contains both medieval lanes and modern university campuses. Cobblestone streets in the center lead to open squares, while green spaces and cycling paths run through the outer districts.
The city received its charter in the 11th century and grew into a center for cloth trade before the university was founded in 1425. War damage in the 20th century led to extensive rebuilding, during which many historic buildings were restored.
The name Leuven comes from an early medieval word for river, and the city shows its academic identity through bookshops and cafés that cluster around lecture halls and libraries. Students shape the streetscape during term time, when squares and parks become informal meeting places between classes.
The city center can be crossed on foot in about 30 minutes, and the bicycle is the most common way locals move around. Most points of interest sit within a few hundred meters of the Grote Markt square.
An underground network of tunnels and cellars beneath the old town served as storage for beer and cheese during medieval times. Some of these vaults are now open for guided tours and maintain constant temperatures throughout the year.
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