The first mention of Leuven goes back to 891 ('Loven'), when a Viking army was defeated by the German emperor Arnulf of Carinthia (see: Battle of Leuven). According to the city legend, its red-white-red colours depict the blood-stained shores of the river Dijle after this battle. Situated at this river and nearby the stronghold of the Dukes of Brabant, Leuven became the most important centre of trade in the duchy between the 11th and the 14th century. A token of its former importance as a centre of cloth manufacture, is nicely reflected in the typical Leuven linen cloth, known in late 14-15th century texts as lewyn (other spellings: Leuwyn, Levyne, Lewan(e), Lovanium, Louvain)[1].
In the 15th century a new golden era begins with the founding of the largest and oldest university in the Low Countries: the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven, or Catholic University Leuven) in 1425.
Destruction of the university library, 1915.In the 18th century Leuven became even more important because of a flourishing brewery that would later become Interbrew (recently renamed to InBev), the largest brewery company in the world. In fact, InBev's Stella Artois brewery and main offices dominate the entire north-eastern part of the town, between the railway station and the canal to Mechelen.
In the 20th century, both world wars inflicted major damage to the city, destroying the university library twice. The world was outraged over this and the library was completely rebuilt after World War I with American charity funds and German war indemnities. After World War II, the burnt down building had to be restored again. It still stands tall as a symbol of the terrible wars and the Allied solidarity afterwards.
Nowadays Leuven is a real "student city", as most citizens in its centre are students. Leuven sports one of the liveliest bar scenes in Belgium. Besides boasting the "longest bar" in Belgium, the Old Market, tens of bars and cafés crammed into a central square in Leuven, it's also the proud home city of Belgium's smallest bar, Onder den Toog in the Noormannenstraat, a must for every visitor to Leuven seeking adventure and folklore. The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Catholic University Leuven) is the oldest catholic university still in existence. One of the orchestras formed by students is the "Arenbergorkest", allowing these young people to combine study and music. There are also a number of hogescholen (Vocational university, literally translated: "high schools"). These hogescholen include Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven (Catholic High School Leuven) and GroepT (GroupT).