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In the middle of the cross-section of roads behind the choir of the St.Peter's church a rather funny little statue can be spotted. This statue is quite recent and is nicknamed 'Fonske'. It represents a person (a student ?) reading a book whilst pouring liquid in his brain (probably beer ? ). The people and students have directly named this new statue 'Fonske'. It is a typical Flemish name (the diminutive of Alfons, Alphonse). In Latin 'fons' means 'fountain'. One look at 'Fonske' and you'll instantly know what Leuven and its inhabitants (also the students) think about the hardships of being young and having to waste the best years of your life with books (sic!!).

Leuven is a typical city of Brabant. Whereas the Flemish cities like Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp are situated in the flat  low country of Northern Belgium, Leuven is more hilly. A part of the city lies in the valley of the river Dijle. Alongside this valley there are hills. Therefore the landscape around Leuven varies a lot (Note: you will find a similar situation in Brussels which is situated in the valley of the river Zenne). Around Leuven there are also lovely woods like the 'Heverleebos' and green areas belonging to the old medieval abbey of Park, the castle of Arenberg.

The city center looks like a very well preserved town with buildings from the 17th and 18th century. Unfortunately this is not due to a well organized protection but to a reconstruction of the old city. The center of Leuven was almost completely destroyed during the First World War and after the war carefully rebuilt.

Leuven would not be much of a student and university city if it were not at the same time a city of beer. Belgians will always associate the city with one of the most famous and popular lager beer brands in Belgium : STELLA ARTOIS. This brand of beer is now produced by the INTERBREW company, one of the largest beer brewing concerns in the world. The breweries are situated just outside of the center, near the canal towards the city of Mechelen.

We already mentioned the magnificent Town Hall, but Leuven presents a panoply of other beautiful monuments such as the St. Peter's Church (with the famous 15th century painting of Dirk Bouts ' The Last Supper ', the old Beguinage, the University Library, the St. Michael's Church and the University Hall.

Leuven is easy to reach by car as well as by train from Brussels. (only 20-25 minutes).

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