Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, city in Wallonia, Belgium
Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve is a municipality in Belgium with two parts: the original village of Ottignies and the newly built university town of Louvain-la-Neuve, founded in 1968. The streets are designed for walking, with many shops, cafes, artworks, and parks that make the center lively and welcoming.
Louvain-la-Neuve was founded in 1968 after the University of Leuven split to house the French-speaking students. The town was built from scratch and has since been tied to academic life, research, and innovation.
The name Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve joins two places: Ottignies was an old village, while Louvain-la-Neuve was built in 1968 to host the university after it split from Leuven. The streets feel lively, shaped by the daily movement of students and workers who fill the town with energy.
The town is about 40 minutes by train from Brussels, making it easy to reach from the city. Pedestrian areas and wide cycling paths make it simple to move around and explore all the main sights.
A paving stone from Leuven's old market square was placed at the new Sainte-Barbe square in 1968 as a symbol of connection to the past. This stone remains there today, marking the story of the university split.
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