Page 175 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

ANT WERP, FLEMISH BR ABANT AND LIMBURG  173

The stately Alden Biesen castle, former headquarters of the German Order of the Teutonic Knights
holdings. Alden Biesen, as such as the Moerenpoort, a contains more early wooden
the regional headquarters, 14th­century city gate. Today, sculpture, includ ing a vividly
or landcommanderij, was an the Begijnhof nearby is a pretty expressive head of Christ, as
expression of this wealth, until area to wander in. The town is well as impressively bejewelled
the order was evicted in 1795 also famous for its huge chalices and reliquaries. The
by the armies of the French antiques market. 12th­century cloister is a rare
Revolution. It then became a Ano ther landmark, the Onze- example of Romanesque
private resi dence. Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek, stands architecture in Belgium
In 1971, the main part, called on the site of a 4th­century The Haspengouw region
the Water Castle, was gutted church. The current basilica was surrounding Tongeren is
by fire. Although it has been built between the 11th and celebrated for its bountiful
restored, little of the original 16th cen turies. Its high and farms and orchards and the
interior has survived. Today, elegant Gothic interior is rich in appealing hoevetoerisme, or
the castle is used pri marily as statues and paintings, while the farmhouse accommodation
a cultural centre by the Flemish organ loft is a superb example (see p262) that showcases the
community, host ing concerts of Baroque extra vagance. It is area’s charming rural assets.
and exhibitions. The castle com­ famous for a miraculous statue,
plex also offers a perma nent in painted wood, of Our Lady of E Gallo-Romeins Museum
display about its history, a Tongeren. This statue, dating Kielenstraat 15. Tel (012) 670330.
formal French garden and from 1476, is the focal point of Open 9am–5pm Tue–Fri, 10am–
beautiful parkland. the Seven­yearly Kroningsfeesten, 6pm Sat & Sun. & - =
or Coronation Festival (see p37), ∑ galloromeinsmuseum.be
attended by what is said to be R Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek
j Tongeren the biggest procession in the Stadhuisplein. Open 9am–5pm
country. The church treasury daily. &
10 km (6 miles) SW of Alden Biesen.
Road Map E2. * 32,000. £ @
n Via Julianus 2; (012) 800070. Ambiorix and “The Bravest of the Gauls”
( Sun. ∑ tongeren.be
The leader of a Belgic tribe called the Eburones,
Tournai (see pp184–8) and Ambiorix is famous for mounting a fierce cam paign
Tongeren both claim to be against the Romans, who had conquered the area
Belgium’s oldest town due in 57 BC. Three years later, they wanted provisions
to their Roman origins. This from the Eburones to feed their troops. Ambiorix,
heritage is seen in Tongeren’s who had gained the con fidence of the Roman
Gallo-Romeins Museum, built leaders, warned them that a massive army of
on the site of a Roman villa. It Germanic tribes was on its way and per suaded
contains an extensive collection them to retreat. As the Romans did so, the Eburones
swooped down and massacred them. Julius Caesar
of artifacts and sculptures, decided to reap his revenge personally, and in the
extending up to the Middle resulting campaign he crushed the Belgae com­
Ages, from the prehistoric era Ambiorix of pletely. For his part, Ambiorix vanished along
to the Middle Ages. the Eburones with his troops. These events inspired Caesar to
Tongeren evolved into a record that “of all the Gauls, the Belgae are the
prosperous medieval trading bravest”. Today, a 19th­century statue of Ambiorix stands in the
centre, as can be seen in the Grote Markt of Tongeren.
existing traces of its city walls,

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