Park Abbey in the Heverlee district, about 3 km south of the city centre, is one of the most complete medieval abbey complexes in Belgium. Founded in 1129 by Norbertine monks and continuously inhabited ever since, it comprises a magnificent baroque church, medieval cloister, farm buildings, a library, a prelate's residence, and a series of landscaped fish ponds. The whole ensemble is set in grounds that feel deliberately isolated from the surrounding suburb.
The abbey church is a Baroque building completed in the 18th century, with an interior of considerable richness — painted vaulting, gilded woodwork, and a substantial organ. The fish ponds in front of the complex are ancient, dug by the medieval monks for practical sustenance, and now a picturesque element of the grounds. Guided tours of the abbey are available on weekend afternoons and are the best way to see the interior. It's an easy cycle from the city centre following the river, and the grounds are pleasant even if you don't join a tour.