No Belgian city is as artificial as Louvain-la-Neuve. It owes this to the abrupt split of the university of Leuven after the tumultuous May '68. A city walk with a twist.

Text and photo Chris Van Minnebruggen

You must see Louvain-la-Neuve at least once in your life. The city has no history, having been rapidly constructed in the seventies. It certainly doesn't have architecture that radiates warmth or coziness. The car was still king, and yet it has a complicated street plan with plenty of greenery, squares, and parks. Typical are the many stairways and alleys. This way it never seems crowded. And the train? It stops right under the Place de l’Université.

On sunny days, students take over the squares. They chill en masse on the Grand-Place. With this walk, you still have time for a visit to the Musée Hergé or Musée L, where art and science engage in dialogue. A highlight is the detour through the La Baraque neighborhood. There you catch a glimpse of everyone in the new Leuven building a different life. With yurts, earthen houses, wooden barracks, and weathered trucks for any terrain.

Tip: this is a winding route and you will always find your way, but having Google Maps or a hiking GPS on hand makes it just a bit easier.

The route

Start at Rue de Mont-Saint-Guibert 17 (V) and follow the path next to the main road on the right. Descend the stairs at the RA residential area. Before the LA tunnel, at the bank RA and ascend. At the roundabout RD, Rue de l’Esplanade and RA until Sint-Franciscuskerk (1). Behind the tower RA and LA, Chemin des Sages. At the intersection RD into the greenery and RA over the small bridge. Before you is the Hergé museum (2). LA down the stairs and RA behind the museum. RD into the Parc de la Source and at the gravel path RA. After the park LA to Place de l’Université. To the right of the square Rue des Wallons and LA Voie des Hennuyers. If you come by train (3), you can join in here. At the T LA, at the roundabout RA. Immediately crosswalk LA, ascend, and via Rue des Tisserands enter the La Baraque neighborhood. RD a sandy path, at a small square RA, Rue de la Baraque. After 100 m LA through the community gardens to a tree with three benches. LA, by the yurts RA along the habitations légères (4) to a dirt road. RA and at the fork keep RA, narrow path next to the meadow. At the end of that field RA to Verger de la Baraque. Cross the square and RD, Rue du Jardinier. LA, immediately RA and again LA, Rue du Poirier. Cross, RD and RA around the UCL to Musée L (5). RA behind the museum, Rue Archimède, across Place Galilée and RA, Avenue du Jardin Botanique. At the greenhouses RA, gravel path through the small park. RA behind the square farm and LA along the tennis court. Cross the street and at the intersection with Rue de la Neuville RD into the forest. At the park meadow RD follow the winding asphalt. At the first houses RA up the stairs, follow and at the T RA. RD across the pedestrian bridge, Chemin des Saxophones. Cross the street, down the stairs, and across the path through the grassy field, keep left. RD, Rue Maurice Grévisse. At Notre-Dame d’Espérance (6) RA and down, Parvis de la Cantilène. From now on RD, Rue des Poètes and Scavée du Point du Jour, all the way to the dried-up lake. LA around the lake and on the other side LA through the pedestrian tunnel. LA to the starting point.