The best traffic-free bike rides in Dunbergbroek (Hagelandse Vallei)

Beautiful church, but drove past it.

Just one of many

The city of Leuven and its surroundings offer superb cycling infrastructure. This impressive crossing of the train station is part of it.

This monumental pulpit was made for the abbey church (Norbertines) of Ninove and consists of a rock and two palm trees. At the bottom, the conversion of Norbert is depicted, and Peter in a cave. In 1807, it was transferred to St. Peter's Basilica in Leuven. Source and more: https://ornamentsnijder.blogspot.com/2024/05/preekstoel-in-de-collegiale-sint.html

This bike path, which runs directly over the railway tracks through the main station, is very convenient. Simply take the elevator up, hop on your bike 🚲, and head into the city 👍

St. Peter's Church is one of those churches with works by several Flemish masters. Dieric Bouts is usually the first to come to mind. You should definitely see the Triptych with the Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus and the Altarpiece of the Holy Sacrament, the latter described as "a milestone in painting in the Low Countries." But there is, of course, much more. The most important pieces and all the information about Bouts's two works can be found at https://www.flemishmastersinsitu.com/nl/locaties/sint-pieterskerk-leuven

Together with the town hall on the opposite side, the former collegiate church of St. Peter forms the heart of Leuven, situated at the intersection of the roads to Diest, Tienen, Namur, Brussels, and Mechelen. As the city's oldest ecclesiastical institution, St. Peter's Church is located halfway up the hillside east of the Dijle River. The oldest archaeologically attested church on the site dates from the early 11th century and was probably built at the initiative of Lambert I, Count of Leuven. St. Peter's Church received collegiate status in 1054, after Lambert I had already assigned seven canons to the church in 1015. Excavations carried out in 1950 following the damage caused by World War II unearthed the remains of the Romanesque St. Peter's Church. The nave and choir probably belonged to the 11th-century church; The transept, the west building with flanking round stair towers, and the eastern central building with crypt were more recent additions. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of St. Peter, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/42127

The core of Horst Castle probably dates back to the 13th century and is characterised by a square keep. The keep probably belonged to the oldest core that was further expanded into a fortified castle in the 15th century. During the troubles under Maximilian of Austria in 1489, the castle of Horst was taken by the people of Leuven and set on fire. According to literary sources, only the keep, part of the entrance gate and a defensive wall remained standing. The residential and east wing were renovated and expanded in the 16th century. The round tower also dates from this period. The outer wall was provided with a rectangular bay window. The castle lost its military character and became more of a pleasant residential area with a view of the moat, the ponds and the inner courtyard. Brick construction with sandstone layers characterise these buildings. In 1587, however, the castle was set on fire again during the raids of the Geuzen. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that restoration work began. It is difficult to deduce from the available sources to what extent this involved restoration or an embellishing conversion of the castle complex. Presumably nothing changed in the internal structure, but only after the structurally necessary repairs were the interiors completely refinished. Maria-Anna Van den Tympel had a new chapel built against the keep in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the complex must have been damaged by plundering and neglect, and it is possible that it also suffered from plundering during the Brabant Revolution of 1830. Around 1850, the castle must have been habitable again, but the castle buildings only served as a farm. In the land registry, the site around the castle is called "De Notelaren Boomgaerd". Around that time, the most dilapidated part must have been demolished, namely the southern part and the superstructure of the gate. The rest of the complex was probably restored with reused demolition material and in traditional style. The castle was divided in 1880, with one part being registered as a school house. In 1897, a further division followed, with two plots being designated as houses. Several restoration campaigns followed in the 20th century. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Horst Castle, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43619