Walking in the nature reserve
In Park Abbey, a green oasis for people and animals, you can relax amidst 42 hectares of protected natural landscape.
The nature reserve
Long ago, Leuven was surrounded by vast forests. To the southeast of the city, in the valley of the Molenbeek, Godfrey the Bearded, Count of Leuven, had his hunting park that was surrounded by a wooden palisade and a moat. In 1129, the Count decided to gift this part of his possessions to the Norbertines. This immediately explains the abbey’s historic name. The abbey grounds were once much larger, but today they still cover 42 hectares, a significant part of which, including the ponds in the valley of the Molenbeek and the Leibeek, is recognised as a nature reserve and this in the middle of the 21st century urban agglomeration of Leuven.
Take a walk around the four ponds or through the meadows, with unique views of the abbey and its outlying grounds. There are all kinds of paved walking routes with benches where you can sit down, relax and enjoy the environment. The walk through the whole domain is about 2 kilometres long.
10 perspectives walk
Discover the versatility of the unique abbey domain in ten stops
This walk along ten perspectives literally makes you pause and reflect on the beautiful site and its vistas. As icing on the cake, the Amsterdam author and city poet Marjolijn van Heemstra has set each vista into poetry.
Practical information
Plan your hike
On Wandelknooppunt.be you will discover the most beautiful walking routes along junctions in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France. So you can quickly and easily plan your hike along or through Park Abbey.
