Ladeuzeplein

The Mgr. Ladeuzeplein is a square (plein is Dutch for square) in the center of Leuven. The square was named after a former rector of the Catholic University Leuven, Monseigneur Paulin Ladeuze. The Ladeuzeplein is the largest square in Leuven. Until World War II it was called the Volksplaats or People's Place.

Among the local population the square was known as the Clarisse. This name is derived from the Clarisse religious order who used to have a monastry at this location, when it still was a sandy hill. In 1783 the monastry was abolished and the city of Leuven bought the estate from the Belgian authorities, who had inherited it, in order to establish a market dedicated to the sale of wood. The hill was leveled off and the first house on the square was erected in 1812. At this time the square was named "Place Napoleon", later it was renamed the Volksplaats and eventually it became the Mgr. Ladeuzeplein.

University Library

The square is dominated visually by the monumental library of the University. Even though the neo-renaissance exterior implies otherwise, the building is relatively recent, dating from 1921. The library was a gift from the American people to the city of Leuven, after the original 17th Century library near the Grote Markt was burned down by the German occupying forces in August 1914. The fire destroyed not only a large part of the cultural patromonium of the medieval city, but it also caused the loss of countless and irreplacable historical manuscripts and books, many dating back centuries.

This act of violence caused uproar througout the world and several, mostly American, charities were established to compensate the loss, so in 1921 work was began to build a new library, on the square now known as Ladeuzeplein. The new building also contains one of the largest carillons in Europe, it was created and offered as a gift in 1928, by US engineers as a monument of remembrance for all colleagues who lost their lifes during World War I. The carillon originally contained 48 bells, that being the number of states in the Union at the time of the gift. The main bell, which rings evey hour on the hour, is named the "Liberty Bell of Louvain" and the fourth largest clock contains an inscription calling for world peace.

In May 1940, at the start of World War II, the German occuppiers again destroyed, almost completely, the (new) University Library. After the war the building was reconstructed almost completely along the original plans. After a substantial renovation from 1999 - 2003 the exterior, carillon and the roof structure are once again restored to their former beauty and dominate the square's outlook.

Art

In 2005 the Catholic University Leuven celebrated its 575th anniversay and decided to thank the city of Leuven for its hospitality by asking renowned artist Jan Fabre to create a fitting sculpture and present it as a gift to the city. Fabre designed a modern art installation called the Totem. It consists of huge bug stuck on a convert|7|ft|m|sing=on high steel needle. The junxtaposition of the surreal view of the bug on a needle in front of the neo-classical library building perfectly captures the spirit of the city and university of Leuven.

The ancient art of citywide musical recitals also still is very much alive. There are regular recitals carried out on the carillon, which was competely restored in 1983 and expanded to 63 bells.

Regular Events

* Weekly Farmers' market on Friday

* Yearly carnival fair during the month of September

* Yearly cultural city wide exposition Leuven in Scene

* On Saturday and Sunday during the months of July and August nightly carillon recitals Ladeuze Bells

* Christmas fair in December

External links

* [http://d-sites.net/nederlands/fabreleuven.htm Totem van Jan Fabre] - Dutch language site
* [http://www.leuveninscene.be/ Leuven in Scene] - Dutch language site
* [http://www.ladeuzebells.be Ladeuze Bells] - Dutch language site