Whilst in Leuven, it would be a major miss not to visit the Grand Béguinage (Groot Begijnhof in Flemish, the language of this city) as well as the Botanical Garden.
The Groot Begijnhof is like a small town within the city. A walled and protected one, for that matter. It has several old streets, parks and churches, plus the Dijle river that flows through it.
It belongs today to the Leuven University, as residence for students and some teaching staff. But its initial raison d'être -- it was created at the beginning of the XIII Century -- was very different. It was built to house unmarried women who lived a community life, with a strong emphasis on religious practises. They were not nuns, but their status was almost as such. That was a semi-monastic approach to life, but without vows and with the liberty to leave the community if they so decided.
The Botanical Garden is the oldest in Belgium. It was since the beginning (1738) associated to the University and in particular to its Medicine Faculty. Its Orangerie (greenhouse) deserves special attention.
And by the way, look at the bust that I picture below. One of its decorations is a small joke by the sculptor. The baby pacifier.
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