Leuven

A charming, historical city situated near Brussels on the Dijle river. It is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant, which was created in 1995 as a result of the division of the former province of Brabant. The earliest mention of the city dates back to 891. The city can be proud of one of the largest and oldest universities in the Low Countries - the Catholic University of Leuven, which was established in 1425 and still remains a significant and renowned university centre in Europe and beyond. Many distinguished Poles studied there. Leuven is also an important tourist centre, the city of museums and many Late-Gothic churches. In Leuven there is also a large béguinage - one of the last of its kind in the world - listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.