MAASTRICHT

Winter view of the old town centre from across the river Maas

 

Maastricht is a beautiful old fortified town which has a very definite Bourgondic touch to it. It houses many historic buildings and churches including two Roman basilikas: the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Basiliek, and the Servaas Basiliek, both built in medieval times. It is a cheerful and sunny place and has a mediterranian feel, with many french and some spanish influences, arisen by numerous invasions of the city by the Spanish, French, Habsburgers (Germans) etc. and which can be detected in the local architecture as well as in the very typical character of the local people with their culture and dialect. De town has a very rich history, she has been inhabited by people at least since the Romans arrived. There are many remnants from that period, the town still has large remains of the two citywalls from the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as a fortress gateway, the "Helpoort", ("Gateway of Hell") which used to be a prison at one time which explains the name. Situated close to the town is the famous Fort Sint Pieter, built in the 17th century to keep the French armies out, although this was not always successful.

View across the Maas

Very characteristic for Maastricht is the Carnival which returns every year. The numerous pavement cafes and terraces on the Vrijthof are very atmospheric and bustling with life in the summer months. The Maastricht cuisine is very impressive: there is a wide assortiment of very good restaurants and eating places offering an extensive choice of culinary delights. There are many delicious local specialities on the menu and there is also a large range of international cuisine on offer with an extensive selection of exotic dishes. Once a year the town is host to the culinary Festival of the "Preuvenemint" ("festival of tasting") which attracts many visitors from afar.

Servaasbasiliek on the Vrijthof

The town has a wonderful atmosphere and the local people are very friendly and welcoming, with an enormous sense of humour, which is especially demonstrated in the already mentioned annual Carnival (or "Karneval"). This magnificant cultural feast is probably one of the biggest streetparties in Central Europe lasting for three days. This is certainly an experience not be missed.

Geographically Maastricht is also very conveniently situated and a town from which to visit other well-known central European places, e.g. Aachen just over the German border (1/2 hour's drive away) and situated to the direct south is Liège in Belgium which is about the same distance away.

Stadhuis

In Maastricht the two basilicas: the Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek and the Servaasbasiliek both house magnificant organs. There are also many other very interesting historic organs in some of the smaller churches in Maastricht. See also the Maastricht Organ page on Ton's Organ Website for more information about the organs.

And do not forget to pay Ton's photo gallery a visit, where you can find many more photographs of Maastricht, Roermond, South-Limburg, Castles in Limburg and so on.

Artistically Maastricht is also the home of the now world famous annual EUROPEAN FINE ART FAIR and the Art and Antiques Fair (TEFAF).

Market seen from the townhall

The park