Louvain-la-Neuve

See full map

Louvain-La-Neuve is small Belgian city sitting an half hour south-east of Brussels on the E411 motorway. It was build to house the Université Catholique de Louvain after the luingistic quarrels in the 60's. There are about 11.000 inhabitants and 20.000 students. The tiny city-center is all pedestrian. If you stay during the week (exept during the summer holidays) you might take part to the incredible student-parties all night long. One beer cost around 0.80€ in the "cercles" (students pubs).

Hitchhiking out

North-West towards Brussels / South towards Namur, Luxembourg, France

From the city center walk all the way up to the roundabout of the shopping center "Esplanade" (about 10 min). While walking along the Boulevard de Wallonie, you'll see a petrol station, but you better walk a little longer and stand on the roundabout behind the sign "E411 Bruxelles". It is THE perfect enlightened spot to go either north or south (road splits a little further). You may definitely meet other hitchhikers...

If you are traveling south, and you don't want to stay in Namur but rather keep going south, ask the driver to drop you at the roundabout of Namur centre exit. Same kind of spot...

South-West towards Mons, Paris

Stand at the beginning of the RN25 (15-20 min walk). The spot is not that great, but you should be fine with a sign !

Sleeping

Hostels/ Hotels : There is a inn near the city-center which is called "Le relais"and a quit fancy hotel: the "hotel mercure". Don't forget about Couchsurfing ! You can always walk 20 min and find some bush to sleep in outside the city.