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St. Peter's Church Leuven

St. Peter's Church Leuven

Highlight • Religious Site

St. Peter's Church Leuven

Recommended by 33 hikers out of 35

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Location: Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to St. Peter's Church Leuven

4.6

(22)

190

hikers

1. Oude Markt Leuven – Leuven Town Hall loop from Leuven

8.01km

02:03

40m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

3.6

(5)

200

hikers

2. Leuven Town Hall – Oude Markt Leuven loop from Ridderbuurt

4.38km

01:08

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.8

(12)

103

hikers

3. Leuven Town Hall – Oude Markt Leuven loop from Janseniushof

6.61km

01:43

40m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

May 27, 2025

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, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/42127

Translated by Google •

May 27, 2025

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 flemishmastersinsitu.com/nl/locaties/sint-pieterskerk-leuven

Translated by Google •

Rob Josten 🦅

May 23, 2025

St. Peter's Church dates from the 15th century and is a prime example of late Gothic architecture. Looking down Dirk Boutslaan, you can clearly see that the towers were never completed due to unfavorable ground conditions. The church and its belfry were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

In 2020, the fully restored St. Peter's Church reopened with a revamped museum layout and visitor experience. Visitors can discover a unique collection of artworks still preserved in their original locations. The church treasures come to life in an innovative experience via tablet (external link) or the award-winning HoloLens.
The HoloLens is a smart mixed reality headset, developed by Microsoft, that displays holographic images on the real world.

Translated by Google •

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Informations

Elevation 30 m

Weather

Today

Tuesday 21 October

15°C

12°C

70 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 26.0 km/h

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Location: Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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St. Peter's Church Leuven

1. Oude Markt Leuven – Leuven Town Hall loop from Leuven

2. Leuven Town Hall – Oude Markt Leuven loop from Ridderbuurt

3. Leuven Town Hall – Oude Markt Leuven loop from Janseniushof

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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