Page 382 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

380  SOUTHERN NE THERLANDS

Exploring Maastricht
Maastricht is considered to be one of the oldest towns in
Holland. It was the seat of the country’s first bishopric and
an impressive fortress. It has some outstanding historical
monuments, including the Romanesque Onze-Lieve-
Vrouwebasiliek (Basilica of Our Lady); the Romanesque
St Servaas Basilica, with a very old crypt and a carved Gothic
portal (early 13th century); a scattering of Gothic churches;
a Baroque church formerly belonging to the Augustine order
(1661); and a Walloon church from 1733. A great deal remains
of the fortifications, including Roman foundations, part of
the medieval wall, a 17th-century bastion, and 18th- and
19th-century reinforcement works. The medieval Helpoort gate, the oldest city
gate in the country
E Natuurhistorisch the Romans settled in 50 BC
Museum and where the district of P Helpoort
De Bosquetplein 7. Tel 043-3505490. Stokstraat, with its medieval St Bernardusstraat 24b. Tel 043-
Open 11am–5pm Tue–Fri, 1–5pm Sat and Golden Age buildings, now 3212586. Open Easter Day–Oct, 12:30–
& Sun. Closed some public hols. & lies. The pavement of Op de 4:30pm daily. & voluntary donation.
This attractive natural history Thermen, a small and peaceful The Helpoort gate, dating from
museum showcases the natural square in this district where the the early 13th century, also
history of the south of Limburg original Roman fort once was, forms part of the early medieval
through the ages. Highlights has been
of the museum include the marked with
remains of the enormous the outlines of
mosasaur and giant tortoises the old Roman
found in the limestone strata baths. The first
of St Pietersberg. medieval wall
around
P Roman Foundations Maastricht
of the Tower dates from
OL Vrouweplein. Tel 043-3251851. around 1229.
Open timings vary, call to check. Of these, the
In the courtyard of the Onze- Onze-Lieve-
Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek you can Vrouwewal –
see the foundations of a Roman which has
tower which was once part of cannons Mosasaurus hofmanni in the natural history museum, known
the Roman castellum. The standing in locally as the terrible Maas lizard
castellum stood on the banks of front of it – and
the River Maas, just south of the the Jekertoren tower can town fortifications. It stood at
St Servaasbrug bridge, where still be seen. the southern end of the town
and is the oldest surviving town
gate in Holland, and the only
one still standing in Maastricht.
Other structures from this
period can be seen across the
River Maas in Wyck: the
Waterpoortje gate, the Stenen
Wal (wall) along the river, and
the Maaspunttoren. The second
medieval fortifications, made
necessary by the rapid growth
of the city, were built around
1350. Of these, the Pater
Vinktoren near the Helpoort
gate, and the romantic
embankment wall and the
semicircular towers known
as De Vijf Koppen and Haet
ende Nijt continue to
The impressive Pater Vink tower survive to this day.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p401 and p415

380-381_EW_Netherlands.indd 380 16/01/17 12:07 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm