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Here comes the story of a pope and his college.

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It is the 15th century and Adriaan Floriszoon
has moved from the Dutch town of Utrecht

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to try his luck here. The quality of the young
university had taken Europe by storm.

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Adriaan obtained a doctorate in theology and later
even became rector of the university.

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In 1522, he became Pope Adrian
the 6th in Rome,

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the first and so far only pope
to come from the Low Countries.

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He bequeathed his house and his
possessions to the university

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to found a college for theology students,

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which quickly became one of
the richest in Leuven.

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In the mid-18th century,
part of the building collapsed.

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The remaining part of the building was saved

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and this new, neoclassical portion was added.

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Slightly later, during the French Revolution,
the university was abolished

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and Napoleon Bonaparte himself
paid a visit to Leuven.

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Pope's College became a part of
the Parisian Hotel d'Invalides;

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a hospital for French soldiers.

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The corridors were swiftly given names
that were French,

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such as this one, the Corridor de Marengo,

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which was named after one of
Bonaparte's victories in Italy.

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Nowadays, it is a hall of residence again,
with 185 rooms exclusively for male students.

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By the way, it also has a great beer cellar,
nicknamed the Pope's Bar.