A weekend in Leuven

· Fashion, Food, Travel

Final stretch before family holidays! In order to take in as much Christmas spirit as we could, my SO and I spent last weekend in Leuven, thanks to the Flanders and Leuven Tourist Office.

As you may have noticed previously, my trips to Belgium (Antwerp, Gent, Ostend or Brussels) are always very cozy and memorable. This last edition was no exception, especially when you add a bit of Christmas magic to the mix.

 

Small Leuven

Leuven is a tiny city that you can easily be discovered by foot. It’s a 30 minute train ride from Brussels (and 2:30 hours away from Paris). Spending 2 days seems to be a good option, whether or not you decide to incorporate it into a longer trip that includes Brussels for example.

I’ll try to sum up the must see/do/eat of Leuven in this post, to be adapted to your particular interests. As always, don’t hesitate to ask questions!

 

The City Hall “Stadhuis”

The city is very proud of it’s city hall. You can’t miss it, it’s huge, with very imposing architecture.

In this holiday season, with its bright ornaments, i looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale.

It’s possible to visit this gothic jewel with a guide. I unfortunately didn’t do the tour: the time of the visit was changed at the last minute, and the group left without us!

But we compensated by examining the 236 statues in the facade for a long time and in detail (NO, I didn’t count them, YES, I read my guidebook).

 

M museum

The museum is a very interesting mix of contemporary and ancient art. I admit I am more receptive to the first kind, which is what made me want to visit it.

At the moment, Sarah Morris‘s graphic and colorful paintings are on display, along with the drawings, sculptures, and decors of Guy de Cointet.

Extremely inspiring, exactly my type of “eye candy”.

I left with two Sarah Morris reproductions that I’m planning to hang on my walls.
 

The University Librairy

I went because I absolutely needed volume 54 of “fluid mechanics and astrophysics” (the only one missing from my extensive collection!) … well, alright, I may actually have been looking for volume 1 of “Big fibber”, but it was also a great way to get a beautiful view of the city.

This library (gorgeous by the way) is located underneath a tower, which allows you, after climbing a couple of stairs on a spiral staircase, to enjoy a great view of the city and the christmas market.

When you climb to the top you notice the city’s eventful’s history (fires during the war, reconstruction etc.) … the view is a great reward for the climb.

 

The Xmas Market

Leuven’s major attraction during this season is the christmas market that compliments the season’s magical atmosphere. Don’t expect a big market like the one in Strasburg, but the atmosphere here really is intact.

Sausages, waffles and other junk-candy can be found everywhere. Too bad the temperatures didn’t justify warming up with a glass of mulled wine.

The weekend’s high point was meeting with Santa Claus! He had a belgian accent, but I really felt he was the real deal. Don’t know if I’m mistaken?


 

Circus & Co

During 3 days, the Bruul park (5 minutes away from the town center) is home to the Circus&Co festival.

We walked around, and it’s really fun. For those of you who enjoy street food, the Fiesta foodtruck is located there and you can try their pizzas, burgers and chocolate desserts.


 

My Leuven Hot spots

MARTIN’S KLOOSTER (Onze Lieve Vrouwstraat 18)

We stayed in this very well located and very comfortable hotel. Then again, the city’s size means that most hotels will be well located!

The breakfast buffet was hearty and of good quality (especially the crisp pastries!)

 

KOKOON (‘s-Meiersstraat 1)

Great place for curry mussels & fries (the mussels are quite meaty, and the portions very large – I almost didn’t finish!) and a great beef tenderloin.


 

D’ARTAGNAN (Naamsestraat 72)

Pre-christmas meal with this 5 course meal: I absolutely loves the jerusalem artichoke cream with truffle, the foie gras and dates delicacy.

All the dishes were fantastic, although I was less enthused by the dessert, which I found not to be very generous.

 

WÜRST (Margarethaplein 1)

Same brand as the stand at the christmas market, where you find sausage in all it’s forms.

Jingle würst (boudin würst, green apple ketchup, mushrooms, hazelnuts)

 

ELLIS GOURMET BURGER (Naamsestraat 5)

A burger chain restaurant you can find just about everywhere in Belgium, and that we had already tried out. The burgers are rather varied and well prepared.

 

FLYING TIGER (Brusselsestraat 12-14)

I didn’t really have time for much shopping, except at Flying Tiger, the danish brand we discovered in Tokyo and that we were surprised to find again here in Leuven.

 

Well well, that’s about as Christmassy as we can all get. The only thing left to do now is wish you all a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones, and I’ll be coming back soon for other touristic, fashion- or food-related discoveries. Enjoy the holiday season! (English translation by Marine)


My Outfit

Coat“Johnson” Sézane
Scarf ASOS
Sweater Etienne Deroeux pour la Redoute
Pants American Apparel
Sneakers Gazelle Adidas
Bag “Clark” Medium Sézane

& on the Santa Claus picture:
Sweater Soft Grey
Scarf Urban Outfitters

Lipstick« 16 Place Vendôme 364 » Color Riche L’Oréal Paris
Eyeliner Super Liner Black Lacquer L’Oréal Paris
Nailpolish 364 16 Place Vendôme Color Riche L’Oréal Paris

16 Comments

  1. Reply

    Farrah Dupoux

    Amazing photos. I have always wanted to visit Belgium, hopefully next time I go to Europe I’ll be able to go.

  2. Reply

    Maë Rzf

    L’architecture de la ville est vraiment top et coup de coeur pour cette bibliothèque qui me donne envie d’aller la voir en vrai!

    Maë – http://www.blackhairblackdress.com

  3. Reply

    Cathie

    Bonjour et merci pour ce joli reportage qui mêle l’architecture et l’art (tout ce que j’aime). Je ne connais pas Louvain et c’est une heureuse découverte ! Il y a des pépites à découvrir partout sur cette terre… pour qui sait s’émerveiller !
    J’avoue que je suis moins sensible aux photos de nourriture, oh la la !!! c’est pourquoi je ne commente pas quand tu parles de restaurant (mais il en faut pour tous les goûts). Ceci dit, je suis une tokyobanhbao-phile fidèle et je te souhaite de très belles fêtes (et que tu sois gâtées comme tu le mérites !!!).
    Joyeux Noël !
    Cathie

    • Reply

      Tokyobanhbao

      Un grand merci à toi pour ta fidélité (même si tu n’aimes pas la nourriture ? sacrilège ! !haha )
      belle année à toi !

  4. Reply

    Anne

    L’architecture des façades est d’une complexité remarquable! C’est très beau.

  5. Reply

    Mélanie

    Quelle beauté cette architecture: tu me donnes des idées pour un futur week-end!

  6. Reply

    julytoseptember

    Ah je vois que tu as fini par craquer par ce manteau sézane comme moi 😉 Le joli Zara que j’aimais tant a fini par lâcher ?
    Je ne suis pas allée en Belgique depuis un logement mais quelque chose me dit que ça vaudrait le coup ;)!

    Des bisous et passe de belles fêtes !

    Sophia

    • Reply

      Tokyobanhbao

      Oui il ne ressemblait plus à rien avec ses peluches et il est devenu tout mou, sans structure ! Il m’aura quand même duré 2 ans !… j’espère que celui-ci tiendra mieux la route !
      meilleurs voeux à toi !

  7. Reply

    calinhorely

    Je garde un très beau souvenir de Louvain, mais quand j’y suis allée ce n’était pas la période des fêtes.
    Pendant les fêtes c’est vraiment magique !

  8. Reply

    Porcelaine

    Tes articles voyages sont vraiment un régal, à chaque fois que j’en lis un je me dis la même chose. Ca doit te prendre du temps de nous relater le tout, merci pour ce travail !
    Je ne connaissais pas cette destination. Tu me donnes envie d’y aller !
    Bonne soirée.

    • Reply

      Tokyobanhbao

      Je suis vraiment ravie que tu apprécies autant. Effectivement cela me prend énormément de temps (parfois le travail se compte en… jours ! haha) mais c’est un énorme plaisir de pouvoir revivre avec vous ce que j’ai pu voir ou découvrir lors de mes voyages. J’ai l’impression de voyager une 2ème fois !
      Merci en tous cas !
      La belgique est vraiment une destination que j’ai appris à découvrir et tous les coins que j’ai pu y visiter gagnent à être connus ! ^^

  9. Reply

    Chenchen

    Love your photos and your coat! May I ask which size are you wearing? Cause I’m thinking of buying the same ‘johnson’ coat, and your frame seems similar to mine.. Thanks!

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