Heritage sites in Leuven

Leuven's Heritage Treasures

Leuven's historical landscape is defined by its dual heritage as a prominent religious center and a world-renowned seat of learning. This collection features the ornate Brabantine Gothic Town Hall, the UNESCO-listed Great Beguinage, and the 18th-century Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis. From the Renaissance-style Arenberg Castle to the medieval fortification ruins of the Verloren Kosttoren, these sites represent centuries of architectural evolution, including significant Gothic, Baroque, and eclectic landmarks across the city and its surrounding districts.

Leuven's Heritage Treasures — Map

Eddy Van 3000 / CC BY-SA 2.0

A

Leuven Town Hall

The Town Hall of Leuven, Belgium, is a landmark building on that city's Grote Markt square, across from the monumental St. Peter's Church.

Filip Maljković / CC BY-SA 2.0

B

St. Peter's Church, Leuven

Saint Peter's Church in Leuven, Belgium, is a Roman Catholic church built in the 15th century in the Brabantine Gothic style.

Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Great Beguinage

The Great Beguinage of Leuven is a well-preserved beguinage and completely restored historical quarter containing a dozen streets in the…

Rienbouw / CC BY-SA 4.0

D

Academic libraries in Leuven

The city of Leuven in Belgium was the seat of three successive universities, each of which had a notable academic library.

Filipva / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Sint-Donatus Park

The Sint-Donatus Park is an urban park with a village green in Leuven, Belgium.

Penelopeia~commonswiki / Public domain

F

Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis

The Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis is a botanical garden in Leuven, Belgium, dating from 1738.

G

Kasteel van Arenberg

Arenberg Castle is a château in Heverlee close to Leuven in Belgium. It is surrounded by a park.

Wouter Hagens / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Justitiepaleis Leuven

An eclectic court building located on Ferdinand Smoldersplein, designed by architect Oscar Francotte and completed in the early 20th century.

Johan Bakker / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Verloren Kosttoren

The ruins of the highest fortification tower from Leuven's outer city walls, originally known as the Grote Toren.

J

Sint-Michielskerk

A prominent 17th-century Baroque church and former Jesuit building, recognized for its monumental facade and rich interior.

B2Belgium / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Heilig Hartinstituut

A historic Catholic educational complex in Heverlee featuring significant regional heritage buildings.

Funke / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

Remy

A former industrial site in Wijgmaal associated with the Remy starch factory, representing Leuven's 19th-century manufacturing history.

Homeros 29 / CC-BY-SA-3.0

M

Sint-Jacobskerk

A historic church demonstrating a transition of architectural styles, incorporating Romanesque, Gothic, and Classicist elements.

Peter Paul Rubens / Public domain

N

Collegium Trilingue

The Collegium Trilingue, often also called Collegium trium linguarum, or, after its creator Collegium Buslidianum, was founded in 1517…

Title from the Detroit Publishing Co.,… / Public domain

O

SInt-Geertruikerk

A Gothic church and former abbey notable for its stone spire, which was constructed entirely without the use of iron nails.

Title from the Detroit Publishing Co.,… / Public domain

P

Abtskwartier Sint-Geertruiabdij

The former abbot's quarters of the Gothic Saint Gertrude's Abbey, situated within a historic religious complex north of the city center.

Other Lists

Leuven's Essential Landmarks Leuven University Heritage Leuven's Sacred Sites Parks and Recreation in Leuven