Leuven is one of Europe's most ancient university towns, and is ideally located. Straddling the banks of the navigable Dijle river and the trade route from Bruges to the Rhine territories, Leuven grew to become a major trade and textile center. Town and university enjoyed many periods of prosperity. The town hall, the famous 'Begijnhof', the churches, cloisters and colleges stand silent witness to those days and make Leuven the interesting place it is. Leuven is only 25 km away from Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the center of the European Union. Leuven is located very centrally in Flanders and in Belgium and is an ideal starting point for many excursions to Bruges ("the Venice of the North"), to Antwerp, to Ostend, to Brussels and to the forests and nice cities in the South of the country.

The Conference will take place in the unique setting of the classicist buildings of the Maria-Theresia College, situated in the historical centre of Leuven. The college is named after the Empress Maria-Theresia of Austria. Maria-Theresia chose this 17^th century Jesuit college for a theological seminar in 1778. In 1826-27, the Large and Small Rotundae were added. They are used today for concerts, lectures and congresses.

Leuven is a small town. Its diameter does not exceed a 25 minutes walk. The conference takes place near the centre (to the south-east) and the rail-way station is at the north-eastern edge of the town. To see a map of Leuven with the Railway station (blue square at the right of the map) and the Maria-Theresia College (red circle), click here.(opens new window)

This map gives an overview of the town. To see more details, simply click on the region you want to see, and the program returns you a more detailed map.

For information on train timetables, consult the following web site.(opens new window)

The national airport (ZAVENTEM) is at about 25 km from Leuven. You can take a TAXI, but this is quite expensive (2000-2500BF, approximately. 50 euro = 50 $). You can also take the train in the airport (follow the train pictograms) to Brussel NOORD (first call), which leaves every quarter of an hour. Then you take the train to Luik/Liege, Welkenraedt, Köln, Genk, or Leuven, which all call at Leuven. Prefer the international or IC/IR trains because they do not stop too often. When you leave the train and walk out of the building, you are looking in the direction of the town centre. Right in front of the station you can find taxis, busses, or you can walk.

For flight info from and to Brussels airport, please consult the following web site.(opens new window)

Attention :

1. If you want to drive to your hotel, mind the traffic loops in Leuven. Enter Leuven as close to your hotel as possible.
2. Thereby avoid the environment of the Railway station because the area is under construction.

((P) = Parking space available (no advance reservations)) (Prices are per night for a single room and are indicative. Changes may occur. 40.3399 BEF = 1 EUR.)