Louvain-la-Neuve Attractions
The university town of Louvain-la-Neuve is a product of the conflict between the Walloons and the Flemish. When this confrontation reached another zenith in 1968 the Flemish expelled their Walloon colleagues from the Catholic University of Leuven founded in 1425. The Walloons looked for a fresh place and found it 30km/19miles southeast of Brussels in the French part of Belgium and Louvain-la-Neuve, "New Leuven", was founded; it was the first newly set up town in Belgium since the foundation of Charleroi in 1666. Building went on from 1971, and between 1972 and 1979 all the French-speaking faculties moved out of Leuven with the exception of the medical faculty which was accommodated in the Brussels suburb of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. Today in this town, which was conceived for 35,000 people, about 4,500 permanent residents and 18,000 students live. It can be seen that the aim of a homogeneous structure of residence has not been achieved and as a consequence at weekends and in the university holidays it can be very quiet in the town.
The Giants' Festival takes place here.
The Giants' Festival takes place here.
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Townscape
Louvain-la-Neuve was designed to capture a small town feel, with brick buildings, narrow streets, and pedestrian only areas.
Genval - Water and Fountain Museum
A collection of fountains from olden days.
Water and Fountain Museum in Genval
Avenue Hoover 63
B-1332 Genval
Belgium
Avenue Hoover 63
B-1332 Genval
Belgium
Hours
January 15 to December 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Interpretive sessions sometimes available.
Hot Air Balloon Festival
In 5km/3miles west lies Céroux-Mousty where in May a festival of hot air ballooning is held, attracting many visitors.
La Hulpe, Belgium
(Near Louvain-la-Neuve)
A little further to the west of Rixensart lies La Hulpe where the Belgian paper industry had its beginnings. Today it is an elegant residential quarter of Brussels with eight little châteaux. A walk in the Domaine Solvay, named after the industrial family, who in the 19th C. owned the château in the middle of the park, is well worth while. Today the château is a cultural center.
Ottignies - Bois de Reves
Spread over 50 ha, this provincial estate provides ample walking paths for visitors.
Hours
January 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
April 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 |
| Close | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 |
| Close | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 |
September 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 |
November 1 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Facilities
Beach
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Rixensart - Château de Mérode
In the township of Rixensart, 8km/5miles northwest, the pretty red brick Château de Mérode was built between 1631 and 1632. It is square with four corner towers and many windows and is open to the public. It is impressive because of its tasteful furnishings which include Gobelin tapestries, Louis XV pieces, pictures (including some by Nattier and Tischbein) as well as a collection of weapons which the French mathematician Monge brought back from Napoleon's Egyptian campaign.
Hours
April 8 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Wavre, Belgium
(Near Louvain-la-Neuve)
Wavre - Aqualibi
Some of the attractions to be found at this water park include a wavepool, waterslides, a jacuzzi and solarium.
Hours
April 3 to September 5
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| Close | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 |
September 6 to October 17
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| Close | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 |
October 24 to April 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 22:00 | 22:00 | 22:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | 22:00 |
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Wavre - Walibi
A water park featuring Flumes, steam trains and shows.
Hours
April 29 to September 3
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
September 6 to October 17
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 |
