century. The street and the area retained its heritage with witnesses from different periods. Today the Mechelsestraat connects the Vaartkom with the inner city and connects Leuven with Mechelen on a bigger scale. Functions in this area are mainly housing, although there are some restaurants and bars. This area is the area where the Small BĂŠguinage is situated, one of the main attractions in the neighborhood of the former Bacteriological Institute. Leuven center area The historic medieval center of Leuven contains both Oude Markt and Grote Markt. The Grote Markt got its current shape around the 15th Century. The marketplace was first a part of a cemetery around the 11th century Church Sint-Pieters. In the 15th century the square was transformed. The transformation from a cemetery towards a central meeting space in the city happened radically. This transformation of the urban environment was the start of the desired revival of Leuven as a first class city. This status was lost in favor of Brussels earlier on. Together with the foundation of the University this transformation was one of the assets for Leuven. The
Analysis: Urban
Oude Markt is the historic central square of Leuven. Only since the 16th century it is called Oude Markt because of the construction of the current town hall in the middle of the 15th century. During the First World War the center of Leuven was badly hit. Only a few buildings remained at the Oude Markt. This was the time the city center was adapted to the new traffic requirements. This disaster is the reason why most of the buildings in this area of the city date from the 1920s. The center of the city has always been linked to the University as well. It is both a center for the city and for the University. Today the city center is an ensemble of squares, connection roads and small streets that connect the different squares. The main function on the ground floor in this area of the city are leisure, restaurant, bars and touristic attractions. The traffic in the city center is reduced due to restrictions for cars but is an important hub for public transport. On the Rector De Somerplein there is an important station for buses.
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