Flanders State of the Art Leuven ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE VISITFLANDERS Visit and experience 1 WELCOME TO LEUVEN! Discover the many different sites that tell a fascinating story: about the Duchy of Brabant, of which Leuven used to be the capital at one time, or about the university that has been drawing young people to the city for many centuries. Immerse yourself in the innovative projects that are given a chance here, as they prepare to conquer the world. Take a stroll through a market square and unwind on one of the many terraces. Because in Leuven they have elevated joie de vivre to an art form. This city appeals to everyone: to the young and the young at heart, whether with or without a disability. This brochure was jointly developed by Inter and Visit Leuven. It contains all the information you need to prepare your visit to Leuven. Leuven accessible to all 3 INDEX How should you use this brochure? 5 Visit & experience 8 Eat and drink 26 Public toilets 34 Tourist office Visit Leuven 41 Where to stay? 42 Care and mobility aids 44 Transport and parking 45 4 Leuven accessible to all HOW SHOULD YOU USE THIS BROCHURE? We have mapped out two interesting The numbers on the map refer to more routes, with a quick short cut if you’re detailed information in the brochure. It hungry or thirsty. They’ll take you on a also includes information about acces- tour of plenty of sights and fun spots in sible holiday residences, care, resources, the city, with the least possible obstacles transport and parking facilities. en route. You can combine the various loops through the city centre into walks Our information is based on objec- of 1.5 to 5 km. We also suggest a number tive expert inspections on the spot. of “highlights”: places that are off-route For more detailed information about and are worth the detour if you intend each building or site, you can view to stay in the city for several days or that the detailed report on www.toevla.be are simply worth visiting. Like in many (available in Dutch only). We also relied other historic cities, Leuven’s streets are on the Catholic University of Leuven’s paved with plenty of cobblestones. While KULag database and tips from people this walk also includes a lot of cobbled with disabilities for this brochure. sections, they are usually level and well-constructed. We avoid convex and The result is a selection of the most uneven cobbles where possible. accessible businesses and facilities in Leuven. Attention: this does not mean The useful, removable map with de- that you can independently access all scriptions tells you exactly which route these initiatives. On the basis of the to take in order to avoid obstacles. We descriptions, you can decide for your- have also included all important places self which locations are more or less en route on our map, including museums suitable or which preparations you can and other attractions, pubs, restaurants, make to make it work. public toilets and tourist information. HANDY TIP Some tourist buildings or other spots can be viewed as a 360° image on www.visitleuven.be, with all the tiniest details. we will indicate these buildings in the brochure with this icon. Leuven accessible to all 5 VISIT AND EXPERIENCE RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS AND PUBLIC TOILETS The detailed descriptions show to Using the thumb system for the most what degree a certain attraction or important measurement data and the parts of the attraction are accessible detailed pictures of the adapted toilets to visitors with limited mobility. They you can decide if a cafe, restaurant also indicate which obstacles you can or toilet is suitable for you. Because encounter or where you might possibly of continuous changes in restaurants, need a helping hand. If an attraction or cafes and toilets, it is possible that museum has amenities for visitors with some information may be out of date. another type of disability, this is also We therefore recommend you contact stated and indicated by means of the the business before your visit. following headings: If you note that a location has been Facilities/possible obstacles moved, renovated or closed, you can for visitors with limited mobility notify this fact to Inter at [email protected] or +32 11 26 50 30. Facilities for visitors with a learning disability Facilities for people accessible with visual impairments Facilities for deaf accessible with assistance or hearing impaired persons Any questions or remarks on the route this is an access problem or information in the brochure? Let us know via [email protected] n.a. not applicable 6 Leuven accessible to all ACCOMMODATION, INFORMATION OFFICES AND VISITOR CENTRES LEARN For accommodation, information offices and visitor MORE? centres VISITFLANDERS has developed accessibility labelling: Learn more about the The label A+ means that the building is accessibility labels? accessible in a comfortable and indepen- dent way. Navigate to www.visitflanders.com/ The label A means that we consider the accessibility building to be basically accessible; that it can be used by most people with limited mobility, but that it is possible that extra effort or a helper is required. Leuven accessible to all 7 VISIT & EXPERIENCE On your route 13. Oude Markt 14. Statue of De Kotmadam 1. Grote Markt 15. Dijle terraces 2. City Hall 16. Statue of De Fiere Margriet 3. Saint Peter’s Church and 17. Vismarkt ‘The last supper’ by Dirk Bouts 18. Statue of Erasmus 4. 30CC/Schouwburg 5. University Library Worth the detour 6. M-Museum Leuven 7. Statue of Fonske Great Beguinage and Beguinage Church 8. Domus Brauhaus Botanical Garden 9. Pope’s college 10. Maria-Theresiacollege Guided tours 11. University Hall 12. Saint Anthony’s chapel Get cycling! and crypt of Father Damien 8 Visit and experience On your route 1 GROTE MARKT This is one of the most historical sites buildings in the famous Brabantine in Leuven, and one of the busiest as Gothic style, including the monumental a result. Not that you will encounter town hall. Like elsewhere in Leuven, many cars here, as the Grote Markt has there are plenty of pubs and taverns been car-free for several years already. here. The Grote Markt is also a popular The only vehicles allowed in the square location for cultural and other events are the buses belonging to the Flemish in the city. public transport company De Lijn. The layout of the Grote Markt has remained The underground consists of relatively largely unchanged since the 14th level cobblestones. There are gutters century, as you can tell from the many and manhole covers here and there. 2 CITY HALL Leuven’s town hall is one of the best-known for weddings and ceremonial receptions Gothic town halls around the world. It today. The city services have moved to took thirty years and three architects the fringe of the city centre. to build it. The Germans used it as their headquarters during World War I. This Individual visitors can take a guided tour was fortunate, as the building therefore every day at 3 pm (except on 01/01 and escaped destruction in the devastating 25/12), which can be booked through the Fire of Leuven. The town hall escaped yet Leuven Tourist Office, Naamsestraat 3 another calamity at the end of World War (fee payable). Groups must book online II, when a bomb grazed the façade. through www.leuven-plus.be, The sculptures on the town hall’s façade www.leuvenleisure.com were added after 1850. A team of twenty or www.leuveninsideout.com. sculptors worked on the 236 sculptures until the early 20th century. It has be- Wheelchair users can use the side en- come a veritable ‘who’s who’ of history – trance on the left side of the building a hall of fame if you like. Scan the façade in Boekhandelstraat. It is accessible from top to bottom and you will spot with assistance. There is an adapted famous Leuven artists, scientists and toilet in the town hall. historical figures, patron saints, mayors and prominent citizens, rulers and kings Grote Markt 9 (including Napoleon and the Belgian Tel.: +32 16 20 30 20 King Leopold II) and biblical figures on E-mail: [email protected] the turrets. The town hall is still used Website: www.visitleuven.be Visit and experience 9 3 SAINT PETER’S CHURCH AND ‘THE LAST SUPPER’ BY DIRK BOUTS The Saint Peter’s Church is known as The entrance door is a little narrow one of the most beautiful examples (77 cm). The steps in the church are of the 15th century Brabantine High bridged with ramps that can be steep Gothic. Construction of the church at times. You can use assistance to commenced in 1410, and it took more open the door to the ticket office than a century to build. The church and the door to the Chapel of the suffered a lot of damage during the Holy Sacrament. The crypt can only two World Wars. The roof burnt down be accessed by stairs. There is an in 1914 and in 1944, the church was adapted toilet onsite, where you can bombed. On the outside, you can make a sideways transfer (the space distinguish the seven radial chapels, in front of the toilet is barely 80 cm). which are arranged around the choir. Do you require assistance? Call the M In between two of these chapels, you at +32 16 27 29 29 or send an e-mail to will see the chapel of ‘Fiere Margriet’ [email protected].