Welcome to the University Library in Leuven. During this audio tour you will learn about this special library and its dramatic history. The library, which today is found on Ladeuzeplein, used to be in a different location. Originally it was on Naamsestraat, a five-minute walk from here. In 1636 the very first library was housed in University Hall, where in 1725 a wing was added overlooking Oude Markt. However in the first World War the library was hit by disaster. The German troops occupieng Leuven in August 1914 set fire to much of the city, including the library. Over 300,000 books were lost. The brutish attack, which was a blatant disregard of the university’s inviolability, caused the destruction of irreplaceable items from our cultural heritage. Nationally and internationally there was a general outcry, and Leuven received support from all corners of the world. During the war years, relief committees in allied and neutral countries already began to collect books and money for rebuilding the University Library. The generosity of the Americans was unsurpassed: they gave the city a new library building! The first stone laying ceremony for the library building in which you now find yourself, took place on the 28th of July 1921. But twenty five years later, however, in May 1940, the library was again destroyed by fire. During the attack on the city by German troops, much of the new building burned to the ground. The damage was even greater this time, with over 900,000 volumes being lost. After years of reconstruction and remodeling, the building was once again operational by 1951. Now please go outside onto Ladeuzeplein and walk back until you can see all of the façade. Please go and look at the building from a short distance now. Just walk outside onto Ladeuzeplein and step back until you can see all of the façade.

Now please go outside onto Ladeuzeplein and walk back until you can see all of the façade.

Would you like to listen to the walking instructions once again? Press A.

A