Architecture: Gothic
Church • 1410 • GothicSint-Pieter • Leuven
Pastor: pastoor/deken Dirk De Gendt
Religious offices:
during weekdays: 09.00
Saturday: 17.00 • Sunday: 10.30 et 17.30
from 1 Januari till 31 December:
Tuesday till Friday: 10.00-17.00
Saturday: 10.00-16.30
Sunday and bank-holidays: 14.00-17.00
from 15 March till 15 Oktober: Monday: 10.00-17.00
Closed: Monday from 16 Oktober till 14 March,
15/08, 25-26/12, 1-2/01
  
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The collegial church of Saint Peter is a masterpiece of Brabant style Gothic. It is the oldest church in Louvain, being built originally in Romanesque style in 986.Destroyed by a fire in 1176, the present church dates from 1425.Badly bomb-damaged in 1944 the church has undergone significant restoration. In the 16th century the church should have had three high towers but as the ground was sandy and unstable the building work collapsed every time. Thus the towers have stayed unfinished. UNESCO recognises the belfry as a heritage site.
Inside, the choir opens behind a superb rood- screen (1499) dominated by a large Christ on a cross. Underneath the choir is an ancient Romanesque crypt, the sepulchre of the Counts of Louvain.
The museum of religious art (in the choir and the ambulatory) overflows with treasures such as “The Last Supper” (1464) by Dirk Bouts, a splendid masterpiece for the harmony of its composition.
Unfortunately it is impossible to list here the other splendours in this church but many of its works of art are worth taking the time to visit and admire. Just one more example is the sarcophagus of Henry I, Duke of Brabant, in one of the chapels. Finally, another attractive point is, that at times, one can hear the joyful tolling of the bells.