1 00:00:01,841 --> 00:00:06,760 The castle behind me is home to KU Leuven's Faculty of Engineering Science. 2 00:00:07,150 --> 00:00:09,346 It is a gorgeous one, don't you think so? 3 00:00:09,446 --> 00:00:12,654 Its history is Belgian, French and German. 4 00:00:13,088 --> 00:00:18,924 Originally, during the 12th century, it was the fortress of the powerful lords of Heverlee. 5 00:00:19,083 --> 00:00:23,648 Three centuries later it came into the hands of the French Croÿ family, 6 00:00:23,748 --> 00:00:27,447 who rebuilt the medieval castle into this beautiful chateau. 7 00:00:28,112 --> 00:00:31,400 After the last duke of Croÿ died in the 17th century, 8 00:00:31,500 --> 00:00:37,242 the castle became the property of the German Arenberg family through various marriages. 9 00:00:37,458 --> 00:00:39,939 They lived here until the First World War. 10 00:00:40,039 --> 00:00:43,107 The last duke of Arenberg was a great patron of the sciences. 11 00:00:43,295 --> 00:00:46,935 In addition to making several donations to the university, 12 00:00:47,035 --> 00:00:51,486 he intended to donate the castle to the university even before World War I. 13 00:00:51,586 --> 00:00:55,699 Because the duke was German, the castle was only officially transferred to 14 00:00:55,799 --> 00:00:57,365 KU Leuven after the war. 15 00:00:57,741 --> 00:01:00,660 Inside, you will find beautiful salons and rooms 16 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,924 that were completely restored in the last century. 17 00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:07,780 Oh look! It's a genuine Van Dyck! 18 00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:13,169 Over here, we have Professor Minckelers, the inventor of coal gas. 19 00:01:13,430 --> 00:01:16,240 In the past this gas was primarily used for lighting. 20 00:01:16,340 --> 00:01:17,840 More than 200 years ago, 21 00:01:17,940 --> 00:01:20,869 a balloon filled with this gas was released from this park! 22 00:01:21,090 --> 00:01:23,680 It's a shame we don't have an air balloon with us, 23 00:01:23,780 --> 00:01:26,301 otherwise we could have repeated the historic feat!