University Library & Bell Tower
University Library & Bell Tower
University Library & Bell Tower
4.5
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4.5
571 reviews
Excellent
301
Very good
232
Average
31
Poor
2
Terrible
5
delagioventu
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg1,407 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
Fantastic visit, you can visit the main reading room, but also climb all the way up to the bell tower, quite a steep climb yet really worthwile.
Written 1 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael M
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
My girlfriend and I had high hopes for Leuven library, a historic and picturesque establishment. We paid €4 for entry, which is cheap and seems good value. Upon entry to the main library, we were shocked to find that tourists were limited to about 10 square feet of space and one encased book. Incredibly little to see for a library that has so much to offer. What a disappointment!
Written 21 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SMLikestoTravel
Bengaluru, India277 contributions
May 2023 • Family
This is a tourist trap IMHO. No doubt, the university building looks very good and offers good photo opportunities from the square outside. But the entry ticket to view the library is not worth it. You cannot walk down the aisle and see the books up close. And with good reason - as there are students busy studying. The library is pretty modern so best to set expectations accordingly and not expect something like Hogwarts library 😀. To be fair, the ticket allows you to climb up the bell tower but we chose not to do so. So that might affect our experience and this review.
Written 11 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA16,858 contributions
May 2023
If you are in town this is a must. The library is modern so it lacks the charm of old Europe. But if you climb the tower you will find a very good museum of the wars and how the library was destroyed twice. And then on top the views are superb and you get to understand what the town has to offer.
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
edlih1
Leuven, Belgium54 contributions
Oct 2022
one has to see this, it is the university library with century old books...also from the outside on a summer day, having a drink at a terras across the square and admire the beautiful building
Written 13 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Veggie Zebedee
20 contributions
Oct 2022
Really cool library, the reading room is super nice and the bell tower has a great view. I feel a bit bad for the students trying to study while I marveled at the staircase but definitely worth a visit!
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HARTONO T
Medan, Indonesia790 contributions
Jun 2022
This huge building with millions book collection is another landmak of Leuven. To visit the library and tower you need to pay for a fee. A huge plaza in front of the library with no obstruction is the best place to take pictures. The surrounding area is restaurants. The building architecture is fabulous. A very place to sit at evening just to admire the huge grand design building.
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian R
Vienna, VA673 contributions
Sept 2021
The audio app is very glitchy, but that is the only way to see the library. The bell tower is filled with an interesting exhibit and has a good view of the city.
Written 5 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juni
Düsseldorf, Germany491 contributions
Sept 2021 • Solo
I was not inside and just can give my opinion about the building. The building looks fantastic, I was just short time there but I enjoyed visiting this library.
Written 19 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trainbleu
Brussels, Belgium28,766 contributions
May 2021
The University Library of Leuven may look very old but it isn’t even hundred years old. The reason is to be found in its turbulent history. First, the French took off with its valuable collection of books and manuscripts after the French Revolution. Then, during WWI, the Germans set fire to large parts of the city, including the library, which was housed in the former cloth hall at that time. After the war the US in particular donated money to build a new library. It was designed by American architect Whitney Warren (1864 – 1943) in a kind of fantasy Flemish Renaissance Revival style. Unfortunately, the new library was destroyed during WWII, although it’s not clear who was to blame. Yet more books went up in flames. But the library was rebuilt again and there it is today. Memorial stones bear the names of the helping universities.
In these Covid19-times it is still possible to visit the library and climb the bell tower (spiral staircase) but visitors have to reserve a time slot. The huge wood-panelled reading room is only accessible to visitors during weekends. We took advantage of an interesting temporary exhibition on the Belgian production of Photonovels in the University library to wander around and have a peek at the reading room.
In these Covid19-times it is still possible to visit the library and climb the bell tower (spiral staircase) but visitors have to reserve a time slot. The huge wood-panelled reading room is only accessible to visitors during weekends. We took advantage of an interesting temporary exhibition on the Belgian production of Photonovels in the University library to wander around and have a peek at the reading room.
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingUNIVERSITY LIBRARY & BELL TOWER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about University Library & Bell Tower
- Hotels near University Library & Bell Tower:
- (0.11 km) Hotel Ladeuze
- (0.12 km) Leuven City Hostel
- (0.26 km) Pentahotel Leuven
- (0.25 km) Theater Hotel Leuven
- (0.28 km) Getaway Studios Leuven
- Restaurants near University Library & Bell Tower:
- (0.06 km) Carlisse
- (0.06 km) De Appel
- (0.07 km) Tokio Sushibar
- (0.20 km) Gainsbourg
- (0.17 km) Decadenza Gelateria