Page 174 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

172  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

has a varied landscape of heath,
marsh, woodland and farms.
The area is sparsely popu lated
and consequently, cherished by
those seek ing natural beauty
and tranquillity.
A portion of this region
between Maaseik and Genk was
set aside in 2006 as Belgium’s
first national park, the Hoge
Kempen (High Kempen). It
covers 50 sq km (20 sq miles),
containing pine woods and
quarry lakes, and features
Display in the courtyard of the Museactron in Maaseik marked walking paths and
cycling routes of varying
f Maaseik Belgian artists such as lengths. The land rises to an
Ferdinand Braekeleer the altitude of 100 m (330 ft) in
28 km (17 miles) NE of Genk.
Road Map E1. * 26,000. £ @ Elder (1792–1883). places, afford ing fine views.
n Markt 1; (089) 819290. _
Halfvastenstoet (Mar). ∑ maaseik.be R St-Catherinakerk Environs
Kerkplein. Open Jan–Jun: Tue–Sun; South of the Nationaal Park
Lying close to the River Meuse Jul–Dec: daily. & Hoge Kempen, the town of
(Maas in Dutch), which now E Regionaal Archeologisch Maasmechelen has a large
forms the border between Museum “fashion village”, built in an
Belgium and the Netherlands, Lekkerstraat 5. Tel (089) 566890. engaging traditional style.
Maaseik deve loped as a cloth Open Apr–Oct: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; With nearly 100 outlets selling
town during the Middle Ages. Nov–Mar: 10am–4pm Tue–Sun. & = both Belgian and inter national
It is thought to have been the E John Selbach Museum labels at dis count prices, plus
birthplace, in about 1395, of Boomgaardstraat 20. Tel (089) 622000. restaurants and cafés, it attracts
the great pio neer oil painters Open May–Oct: 11am–5pm Wed–Sat; shoppers from neigh bouring
Jan van Eyck and his brother Nov–Apr: 11am–4pm Wed–Sat. & countries such as Germany and
Hubrecht. A statue of the sib­ the Netherlands.
lings stands in the tree­lined g Nationaal Park
Markt, surrounded by 17th­ Maasmechelen
and 18th­century mansions. Hoge Kempen 15 km (9 miles) E of Genk.
The 19th­century Neo­ Winterslagstraat 87, Genk. Tel (089) 774000. Open 10am–6pm
Classical St-Catharinakerk, Road Map E2. Tel (089) 655665. @ Mon–Fri, 10am–7pm Sat & Sun.
or St Catherine’s Church, has n Kattevennen (Genk), Pietersheim ∑ maasmechelenvillage.com
a treasury, contain ing items (Lanaken), Lieteberg (Zutendaal),
from a local abbey, includ ing Mechelse Heide (Maasmechelen) and h Landcommanderij
the 8th­century Codex Eyckensis, Station As (As). - ∑ rlkm.be
which is believed to be the Alden Biesen
oldest book in Belgium. The The Kempen region of Belgium Kasteelstraat 6 Bilzen; 20 km (12 miles)
Regionaal Archeologisch stretches from the eastern part S of Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen.
Museum, a revamped, inter­ of the Province of Antwerpen Road Map E2. Tel (089) 519393.
active archaeo logical museum, through Limburg and across the @ Open summer: 9am–5pm daily;
covers the history of the region border into the Netherlands. It winter: 10am–5pm daily.
starting from the Stone Age. It Closed mid­Dec–Jan. & for
also provides access to a 17th­ permanent display and garden. 0
century apothecary shop, the = ∑ alden-biesen.be
Apothekersmuseum, the
earliest of its kind in Belgium. A magnificent red­brick castle,
Finally, Maaseik’s John Selbach Alden Biesen was built between
Museum is housed within a the 16th and 18th centuries
former Ursuline convent. One with courtyards, turrets, a moat
collection displays more than and a large Baroque chapel. It
400 antique dolls and their was ori ginally founded in 1220
accessories, the earliest dating on land that was given to the
from 1780. The second collec­ German Order of the Teutonic
tion consists of paint ings in the Knights, whose mission was to
Romantic mode from the 16th defend Christendom. By the
to the 20th centuries and Visitors enjoying a nature trail in the 16th century, the power of the
includes works by notable Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen order rested mainly in land­
For hotels and restaurants see p268 and pp286–8

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm