The pedagogy (paedagogium) of De Valk (The Falcon) was founded shortly after the University itself, by Jan Stockelpot ((† 1465), professor of arts, at House De Valk, located in the Penninkstraat (now called ‘Savoiestraat’, a street off the Tiensestraat). In the 15th century, the establishment expanded to the Hoelstraat (now Tiensestraat), where it included the ‘de Ketel’ (Kettle) house, a name that was also used to refer to this pedagogy.
The Falcon is actually an old pedagogy rather than a college. At the University of Leuven, colleges were initially buildings used for student housing, usually founded by a rich patron who invited less wealthy students from specific faculties or regions to live there. Even though debates about course topics sometimes took place in the colleges, their main function was to provide student accommodation.
The four pedagogies of the Arts Faculty (de Lelie, de Valk, de Burcht, het Varken; or, in English: the Lilly, the Falcon, the Fortress, and the Pig), however, functioned primarily as teaching institutions. They did not just provide food and living accommodation, but the young Arts students took most of their classes there. Due to this combination of housing and education, these colleges were more similar to the famous Oxford and Cambridge colleges than to the typical colleges of Leuven. This terminological issue becomes even more confusing considering that the present-day pedagogies now serve the same function as the former colleges, i.e. they provide housing facilities for students.
During the ancien régime, each of these pedagogies had its own coat of arms. The Falcon’s was made of gold and represented a falcon, probably depicted in its natural color, sitting on a branch. Its motto was: “volitat super omnia falcothe” (falcon soars over everything).
One of The Falcon’s most famous students was Pieter-Jan Minckelers († 1824), inventor of illuminating gas. Originally from Maastricht in the Netherlands, he came to The Falcon institute to obtain his doctorate in the arts in 1766. Later on, from 1771 till 1788, he was professor of philosophy here.
The Falcon College is Leuven’s only remaining pedagogy.The medieval house in the Savoiestraat, however, has entirely disappeared. The impressive, classical building that now graces the Tiensestraat is a 19th century reconstruction, built according to the 18th century design by Claudio Fisco (1736-1825). He was an architect from Leuven. In 1783, Fisco’s plans were used to build the left wing, the back and the gatehouse of The Falcon. Only the gatehouse remains intact. The other buildings went up in flames in 1866. In 1873, these building were reconstructed using Fisco’s original plans.
Unlike many other buildings, The Falcon was not sold after the University closed down in 1797. From 1801 onwards until the 1950s, the building functioned as a military hospital for the Leuven-based garrison. The University regained ownership of The Falcon around 1960. Today The Falcon houses the Faculty of Law.
The Falcon is actually an old pedagogy rather than a college. At the University of Leuven, colleges were initially buildings used for student housing, usually founded by a rich patron who invited less wealthy students from specific faculties or regions to live there. Even though debates about course topics sometimes took place in the colleges, their main function was to provide student accommodation.
The four pedagogies of the Arts Faculty (de Lelie, de Valk, de Burcht, het Varken; or, in English: the Lilly, the Falcon, the Fortress, and the Pig), however, functioned primarily as teaching institutions. They did not just provide food and living accommodation, but the young Arts students took most of their classes there. Due to this combination of housing and education, these colleges were more similar to the famous Oxford and Cambridge colleges than to the typical colleges of Leuven. This terminological issue becomes even more confusing considering that the present-day pedagogies now serve the same function as the former colleges, i.e. they provide housing facilities for students.
During the ancien régime, each of these pedagogies had its own coat of arms. The Falcon’s was made of gold and represented a falcon, probably depicted in its natural color, sitting on a branch. Its motto was: “volitat super omnia falcothe” (falcon soars over everything).
One of The Falcon’s most famous students was Pieter-Jan Minckelers († 1824), inventor of illuminating gas. Originally from Maastricht in the Netherlands, he came to The Falcon institute to obtain his doctorate in the arts in 1766. Later on, from 1771 till 1788, he was professor of philosophy here.
The Falcon College is Leuven’s only remaining pedagogy.The medieval house in the Savoiestraat, however, has entirely disappeared. The impressive, classical building that now graces the Tiensestraat is a 19th century reconstruction, built according to the 18th century design by Claudio Fisco (1736-1825). He was an architect from Leuven. In 1783, Fisco’s plans were used to build the left wing, the back and the gatehouse of The Falcon. Only the gatehouse remains intact. The other buildings went up in flames in 1866. In 1873, these building were reconstructed using Fisco’s original plans.
Unlike many other buildings, The Falcon was not sold after the University closed down in 1797. From 1801 onwards until the 1950s, the building functioned as a military hospital for the Leuven-based garrison. The University regained ownership of The Falcon around 1960. Today The Falcon houses the Faculty of Law.