Leuven, university city
Six centuries of history
The university of Leuven was founded almost six hundred years ago. Throughout the centuries people have always occupied centre stage at the University of Leuven.
The University's academic fame has attracted scholars and scientists such as Justus Lipsius, Gerard Mercator and Andreas Vesalius who have all made valuable contributions to European intellectual life.
Since the foundation of the university in 1425 Leuven has been both a city and a university. From the very beginning the two were interlinked and hence share a particularly rich past. Yet Leuven does not rest on its laurels. City and university use the most modern resources to further develop and to present themselves as the cradle of new ideas. The many historic and university buildings forming a heterogeneous but organic whole clearly indicates how Leuven city and university have merged.
