Castle of Arenberg
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in Flanders, Belgium.
The municipality comprises the historical city of Leuven and the adjacent villages of Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, a part of Korbeek-Lo, Wilsele and Wijgmaal.
History :
The first mention of Leuven goes back to 891 ('Loven'), when a Viking army was defeated by the German emperor Arnulf of Carinthia. According to the city legend, its red-white-red colours depict the blood-stained shores of the river Dijle after this battle. Situated at this river and nearby the stronghold of the Dukes of Brabant, Leuven became the most important centre of trade in the duchy between the 11th and the 14th century. A token of its former importance as a centre of cloth manufacture, is nicely reflected in the typical Leuven linen cloth.
Trade and Commerce:
Nowadays Leuven is a student city, as during the academic year most citizens in its centre are students. Leuven sports one of the liveliest bar scenes in Belgium. Besides boasting the "longest bar" in Belgium, the Old Market, tens of bars and cafés crammed into a central square in Leuven, it's also the proud home city of Belgium's smallest bar, Onder den Toog in the Noormannenstraat, a must for every visitor to Leuven seeking adventure and folklore.
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