Top 6 Caves around Leuven

Park Cerckel is over 800 years old and therefore has a considerable aura. It is wonderful to enjoy nature and the ancient trees. The story of Park Cerckel begins in 1228, when the order of the Friars Minor, one of the oldest monastic communities in Diest, settled on the banks of the Demer. They built a beautiful monastery there. But a large part of the city of Diest was destroyed in 1580 by the armies of William of Orange, and thus also the monastery of the Friars Minor. The troops also looted the tomb of Anne of Lorraine (wife of René of Chalon) at that time. She was later reburied in the Sint-Sulpitiuskerk. In 1583 they returned to Diest and began the reconstruction. But when centuries later the French took over, the monastery was sold publicly, which also meant the end of the Friars Minor of Diest. Only the infirmary and the round arch gate were preserved. When the brewing industry in Diest experienced strong growth in the 19th century, half of the monastery domain was bought up by the Cerckel brewing family. They turned it into a beautiful pleasure garden. Where there were once vegetable gardens, a pond and a bridge were created. The former monastery infirmary was converted into a garden pavilion with an orangery extending from it. When the Cerckel brewery disappeared, the beautiful garden also fell into disrepair. For many years the park was an impenetrable jungle that no one really benefited from. In 1990 the park was bought by the City of Diest. But it took a very long time until the people of Diest could finally enjoy this beautiful park, as it was not until April 2011 that the park was made accessible to the public again. Of course, after a thorough renovation. Source: https://www.staddiest.be/park-cerckel.html

Lourdes grotto at the foot of the Eikelberg.

The Lourdes Grotto was built by the late Jef Van Dessel, a former Aarschot police officer. He cycled from Aarschot to Lourdes several times. From the book "The Little Houses of Aarschot": This collection of grottoes and chapels is located on the property adjacent to Grotstraat and Kleine Grotstraat... This busy pilgrimage site, which dates back to 1954, can be entered through an iron gate... The plot is demarcated with gray-painted concrete slabs and a wire fence at the rear. Within this fence, trees and shrubs are scattered throughout. Pilgrims can use the numerous seating areas arranged in a theater-like fashion. At the front right of the property is the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. A Calvary, also arranged in the form of a grotto, stands centrally on the property. To the left of the Calvary is the chapel of the Brustem Sisters, and to the right is the semi-open chapel of St. Rita. This and more can be found at https://lourdesgrotten.com/2008/11/20/aarschot-grotstraat-20-11-8/

Park Cerckel, in the Michel Theysstraat, breathes almost 800 years of history. In 1228, the order of the Friars Minor, one of the oldest monastic communities in Diest, established itself on the banks of the Demer. A large part of Diest was destroyed in 1580 by the troops of William of Orange, including the Friars Minor monastery. Soldiers robbed the tomb of Anna van Lotharingen (wife of René van Chalon). She was later reburied by the city council in the Sint-Sulpitius church. After 3 years of exile, the Friars Minor returned and started rebuilding. At the end of the 18th century, the monastery was sold publicly by the French, which meant the end for the Friars Minor in Diest. Only the infirmary and the round-arched gate were preserved. During the 19th century, the beer industry in Diest experienced strong growth. Brewery family Pieck - later Cerckel - bought about half of the monastery domain and transformed it into a beautiful pleasure garden. The vegetable gardens became a pond with a beautiful wrought iron bridge, the former monastery infirmary was converted into a garden pavilion with an orangery in its extension. When Brewery Cerckel disappeared, the beautiful city garden also fell into disrepair. In 1990, the city of Diest bought the park. With the renovation of the pond, bridge, cave and round arch gate, the park has welcomed the public again since April 2011. The infirmary and orangery are also being restored to their former glory. Source: https://www.diest.be/vrije-tijd/sport/wandelen/park-cerckel

On the Oude Velmseweg (opposite house no. 26 and to the right of house no. 21) there is a Lourdes chapel, with a Lourdes grotto inside. Source: https://lourdesgrotten.com/2009/08/10/landen-attenhoven-oude-velmseweg-10-8-9/

The park needs a bit of maintenance after the long works in the area, including the adjacent hospital. But that is coming. Some things have already been restored. And something beautiful is coming: they are busy renovating the old infirmary, conservatory and orangery. That will be beautiful.

The Heldensquare is more of a memorial than a monument. As a monument, it commemorates the victims of Belgian independence, the First World War and the Second World War. The place where the Heldensquare is located used to be a pond, a fact that was included in the concept. The square is sunken and surrounded by benches, planters, trees, a broken stone wall and various works of art. The monument itself consists of a sculptural ensemble in bronze and bluestone with a brick wall next to it with the names of the fallen and the text "VOOR UW VRIJHEID ZIJN MENSEN GESDIVEN". Around the bronze dome with the statues you will find the names of four places from which soil was brought to Tienen in urns: Dachau, Zwickau, Stalag IA and Breendonk. The whole was created by local architect Jacques Piron and sculptor Georges Van de Voorde. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: War Memorial Heldensquare, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/214961

You enter and exit the cave via rather large stairs and see all kinds of thank-you notes from believers who once came here. At the entrance of the cave (on the right) there is also a frame with some explanation about Our Lady of the Pool. According to that sign, the remains of a pious man named Thierry were found around 1050. He came from Campen and was a lecturer at the University of Paris. He had also made a promise of eternal chastity to the Virgin Mary. A chapel was built at the site of the murder with the permission of Jan I, Duke of Brabant. And he was baptized, you guessed it, Our Lady of the Pool. Hundreds of pilgrims would come to Tienen and the chapel every year to venerate the Virgin Mary, who was soon regarded as the Queen of the city and its surroundings. And you can read and experience the rest here, in the immediate vicinity of the church and – literally – in the depths when you go down the stairs.