This beautiful city on the river Maas is located in the sunny southern province
of Limburg, surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of rolling hills covered with
wineries, oak woods, local beer breweries and regional restaurants with asparagus
and mushroom dishes as their speciality.
Sections of old Roman walls and squares can still be seen in the centre of
the city, including ruins from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries, found under the
site of the Derlon Hotel. Parts of the city walls built on authorisation by
Henry I, duke of Brabant, in the early 13th century are also still in existence,
most notably the Helpoort, the only city gate still standing. Other artefacts
and remains from the Stone Age, the Roman period and the early middle Ages are
on display in the permanent collection of the Bonnefantenmuseum.
The core of the Basilica of Saint Servatius dates from 1000 BCE, while the
crypts from the 11th and 12th centuries include the tomb of Saint Servatius,
Holland’s first bishop. Nearby, the church of Saint Jan is a beautiful
example of Gothic architecture, and contains a Binvignat organ dating from 1780.
Government buildings are also important historical monuments in this culturally
rich city, including the majestic Maastricht Town Hall constructed in 1659-1664,
whose tower, dating from 1684, contains a carillon fitted with 49 bells.
In the surrounding areas, there are also a number of places worth visiting,
including the St Pietersberg caves, which contain wall paintings from both miners
and hideaways. The Aachen Cathedral, where over 30 German emperors were crowned,
also includes the tomb and marble throne of Charlemagne. A number of castles
are perched atop the surrounding hills, such as the Lichtenburg Ruin on the
east side of St Pietersburg Mount, which, with foundations dating back to the
10th century, is the oldest castle ruin in the Netherlands.
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