From Maastricht 1 day where to go. Maastrich - fifteen hundred attractions in a small town. Must-sees in Maastricht
Trip to Maastricht: review + 15 autumn photos
So we finally visited Maastricht! I heard a lot of good reviews about this city, but I couldn't get myself together for a long time: after all, 2.5 hours on the train one way is a lot. But then a friend came to visit me, and we thought of driving them to Belgium. And then we stopped at this town, which geographically belongs to Holland, but is located in a small appendix between Belgium and Germany.
Here. If you look at the map, Maastricht is here!
Many people advised me to set aside two days for this trip. the way is not close. But we didn't have much time, so we decided to try to arrange a one-day trip (or, as they say in Holland, dagje uit). So our visit to Maastricht was short, but very enjoyable and inspiring.
I must admit that I wanted to prepare well for the trip and started doing this more than once. But once again I caught myself thinking that I could not read guidebooks filled with historical facts. And it’s interesting to walk around the city with a good guide, but with printouts from the Internet it’s not mine. I prefer to wander around the city without a map, find unexpected things, and gradually get imbued with its atmosphere.
So do not expect detailed advice on what to see in Maastricht and where to look :) But I will gladly share my impressions and practical information.
How to get from Amsterdam to Maastricht?
Easily! Not very fast, though. Direct trains from Amsterdam to Maastricht run every half hour during the day (timetable is possible). Travel time is 2 hours 26 minutes. Tickets cost 26 euros one way (buy an e-ticket). Just the case when it will be very useful to you.
A small nuance: despite the fact that the train was direct, we had to change trains - from one carriage to another. In Eindhoven, the driver announced that part of the train would remain here, and some would continue on its way. This is the rare case when on Dutch trains it is important to see the train number (four-digit, usually written above the doors in the salon). And change to the part of the train that goes to Maastricht. There were enough railroad employees on the platform to help navigate. So we didn't have any difficulties.
And so, hello Maastricht!
A shopping street begins right from the station, which is fraught with many temptations. Or rather, it doesn’t even conceal, but invitingly so beckons to itself, beckons! .. But, having visited three shops in the first 500 meters, we nevertheless reached the Meuse River - and ended up in the very center of the city.
It is the end of October, and summer terraces in Maastricht are not only open, but also extremely popular!
We stopped for a bite to eat at Vrijthof square.
And when they saw Belgian cherry beer Kriek on the menu, they couldn't resist either!
What surprised us in Maastricht is that the squares and shopping streets are full of life. But if you turn left and right - and no one! But you can safely walk and examine all the details of the houses. And literally on every corner to find something interesting.
If you want to learn more about the city, you can take a boat tour or load into the colorful School bus :) But we didn't have much time, so we left this part of the program for the next time.
We wandered into the church, where now there is a large bookstore Boekhandel Dominicanen (the exact address is Dominicanerkerkstraat 1). Of course, the fact that churches in Holland are now used for completely different purposes is not surprising. For example, I was already in the bookstore at the church in. In Haarlem we were actively visiting.
That is, all this is no longer surprising. But it is still very interesting, atmospheric, colorful.
Oddly enough, there was a market on the Markt square, that is, a market :)
We tried Belgian waffles at the outdoor pavilion. But, to be honest, in Haarlem near IKEA they are much better (there they are poured with real melted chocolate, but here they just squeezed out thin strips of Nutella) - well, let's assume that this was just no luck :)
In general, Maastricht left a very pleasant experience. A beautiful city that looks more like Belgian than Dutch. Interesting shops. Cozy streets for walking. So next time we will book a hotel - and we will not come here with an express visit, but will study everything with feeling, sensibly, with arrangement :)
And stay connected! There are many interesting things ahead!
Maastricht is not at all a typical Dutch town, to some extent it is not even Dutch. It is located at the junction of three borders - Belgium, Germany and Luxenburg, in the very south of the country. The terrain in the vicinity of Maastricht is hilly, which is so unusual for Holland, we did not notice the mills in the city and the surrounding area. Maastricht went down in history as the city where D'Artagnan died on June 25, 1673 and on February 7, 1992 the "Treaty on the European Union" was signed.
But on the other hand, a settlement on the site of modern Maastricht existed in Roman times. The ancient Roman road rested in this place against the crossing of the Meuse, later the Romans built a bridge at the place of the crossing, which was a city-forming object. With the spread of Christianity, Maastricht turned into an important pilgrimage center, the city is home to the oldest church in the Netherlands, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and from the beginning of the 17th century, the city on the Meuse River became an important strategic point, at this time forts, casemates, dungeons and other defensive fortifications.
That. Maastricht offers tourists the sights of three historical eras at once. In terms of the number of attractions in the Netherlands, Maastricht is surpassed only by Amsterdam.
Meuse river
Maastricht stands on the Meuse River, the river is wide and deep, loaded barges and pleasure boats sail along it. It has long served as a link with many countries, in addition, three shipping canals converge in the city.
Meuse river The city stands on both banks of the river. All attractions are on the west bank, while hotels, residential areas and the train station are on the east.
In general, Maastricht is not the city to which tourists who first arrived in Amsterdam and eager to make a trip to the Netherlands rush. Maastricht is faster and cheaper to visit from the cities of Germany - Dusseldorf (distance - 106 km) or Cologne (115 km) or Aachen (37 km), the cities of Belgium - Liege (34 km) or Brussels (113 km).
But from Amsterdam to Maastricht - 216 km, much farther than from neighboring states.
The most budgetary way to travel between cities and countries in Europe is. Prices are about 500 rubles. for the trip.
The fastest way to get from Amsterdam to Maastricht is by train (2.5 hours), but the price is disappointing - 26.50 € one way. Maastricht Train Station is within walking distance of the city center. In addition to this station, there are 2 more railway stations in Maastricht. Your way to the city center from the station will pass through the city-forming bridge of St. Servatius, which has existed on this site since Roman times.
Column of St. Mary in front of the station Bicycle parking in front of the station On the way from the station to the center
Maastricht has its own airport, but there are no direct flights from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
From Moscow, I think it is more convenient to fly "Pobeda" to Eindhoven and go by bus or train to Maastricht.
Parking in Maastricht
ParkingIn Maastricht you will find parking for every taste and budget. It is possible to park directly under the central square of Vrijthof. The cost of such luxury is 1 € for 16 minutes, maximum 35 € per day. In 2013, we stayed just at her, very convenient, but expensive.
There are parking lots on the Park and Walk principle (i.e. within walking distance from the city center). The cost of such pleasure is 1 € for 42-100 minutes, maximum 6.60-9 € per day.
There is absolutely free parking at the Maastricht Noord train station, but from there you have to go to the center by bus, the ticket price is 2 €.
Enlarge the picture on the right, there are even more tariffs, choose a parking according to your taste.
If you are traveling in Holland by car, you may be interested to know. In this article, I share my personal experience of living in a cottage community and the strange Dutch rules.
Where to stay in Maastricht
We have been to Maastricht twice. The first time in winter, Nikolai was on a business trip for two weeks, staying at a rich man's, fortunately, the office paid for everything. The hotel is chic, located in the very center in a historic building, the interior is superb, the location in the city is very convenient. I definitely recommend it.
The second time the whole family made a road trip around the Netherlands and France, then they stopped, located on the outskirts of the city, in their own tent. I liked it very much, we got a lawn with a live hare. The campsite is located on the very bank of the Meuse River, the sunset was simply divine. For this, I simply adore the nature of the Netherlands. You won't see anything like it from the hotel.
Attractions of the center of Maastricht on the map with description
Most of the local attractions are concentrated around two squares - Vrijthof and Markt. Also, Maastricht, unlike the cities of the Dutch coast, is famous for its dungeons, bastions, casemates, but all this is already located closer to the outskirts or even outside the city. If you come to the city for one day without an overnight stay, then the sights of the center are what you need.
At Vrijthof you will find all the most outstanding monuments of architecture and history, such as the Basilica of St. Servatius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Basilica of St. Servatius (Basiliek van Sint Servaas)
This is the oldest church building in the Netherlands, it was built around 1000 in the then dominant Romanesque style, the first archbishop of the lands that later became known as the Netherlands - Saint Servatius (death 384) is buried there. There is a treasury at the basilica, you can visit it for only 4.50 €, the main exhibit is a golden reliquary with the relics of St. Servatius, very similar to the ark of the Three Kings in Cologne. Check prices and opening hours on the official website of the Basilica, alas, everything is in Dutch, google translator will help you.
In general, the Basilica of St. Servatius remained a classic church compared to all the other churches in the Netherlands that I saw later. And this church is more similar in decoration to Catholic or even Orthodox than to Protestant. There are stained glass windows, ceiling paintings, decorations that are not at all typical of most churches in Holland and no exhibitions of dubious modern art, shops or cafes, like in Edam's Grote kerk or the Church of St. Lawrence in Alkmaar, I'm already silent about the beer house in the church of Haarlem.
Basilica of Saint Servatius, Ololo 1000 Central nave of the Basilica Reliquary of St. Servatius Bust of St. Servatius. XVI century. Reliquary in the treasury
The first archbishop, Saint Servatius, settled in the city back in 382; the basilica and the oldest bridge in the city bear his name. The Basilica of St. Servatius is the oldest church in the Netherlands, overlooking the Freithof square. The relics of the saint are still kept in the crypt of the cathedral. In the Middle Ages, many pilgrims came to the city to worship the relics of St. Servatius.
Church of St. John the Baptist (Sint Jans church)
The two main religious shrines of the city, the Basilica of St. Servatius and the Church of St. John the Baptist, are separated by a narrow alley, nicknamed "Purgatory" in memory of the fact that the Church of St. John was given to Protestants. This beautiful 13th century Gothic church has a very beautiful pulpit (1780), gravestones and wall paintings (1400) with Christian symbols, and a 70 m high tower.
Organ concerts are often held in the church on Saturdays. The church has served the Protestant congregation of Maastricht since 1633. The tower is open to visitors from Easter Saturday to the end of October. The top offers a beautiful view of Maastricht and its surroundings. The church is open from Easter to autumn every Monday-Saturday from 11.00 to 16.00. No fee is required to enter the church. Tower entrance (observation deck): adults: € 2.50, children under 12 pay € 1.50.
75-meter bell tower of St. John's Church On the way from Vrijthof Square to Market Square, there is another church, famous for the fact that there is now a bookstore there - the Dominican Bookstore. And here the inhabitants of Maastricht acted rather mildly, after all, the bookstore is not a pub, it looks more decent.
Basilica of the Virgin Mary
This ancient church fights along with the Basilica of St. Servatius for the title of the oldest church in the Netherlands. In fact, it is not clear when exactly it began to be built, apparently around 1000. The Basilica of Our Lady, or Slevrouwe as the locals call it, is a fine example of Romanesque architecture. The basilica is still a functioning Catholic church; you can enter it for a donation. The basilica has a treasury with precious relics. The cost of her examination is 3 €.
Basilica of the Virgin Mary Statuette of Mary Exterior layout Interior Kloster
City hall
The town hall is located on the market square of Maastricht (Markt), it is literally a stone's throw from the main square of the city of Vrijthof. The central hall of the town hall can be visited from Monday to Friday inclusive, absolutely free of charge, on weekends the city hall is closed. The interior is very attractive, with beautiful wall tapestries, stucco moldings, painted ceilings and fireplace mantels. From 1284 to 1794, Maastricht was under double administration - the Archbishop of Liege and the Duke of Brabant, and the town hall at that time was divided into two halves, in one of which the representatives of Liege sat, in the other the representatives of Brabant, even now you can see this division of the building.
A carillon with 49 bells is installed in the turret, periodically announcing the Market Square with a melodic ringing.
Maastricht Town Hall (1659-1664) Multi-colored sculptures on Vrijthof Square Sit higher, look farther Meuse River, view from the Servatia Bridge
Cheerful multicolored sculptures installed on the Market Square remind that in February the city hosts the most colorful carnival in Holland.
Underground attractions of Maastricht
Since the beginning of the 17th century, more than 20,000 underground passages with a total length of more than 80 km have been laid under the city. Initially, the passages began to form at the site of the extraction of stone for construction. Then the local residents began to use the dungeons for household needs, such as storing food and growing mushrooms, then Jesuit students came to the caves, who, out of nothing to do, began to paint very pretty pictures on the walls and carve statues from local rather soft rocks. Now part of the dungeons are filled up, but the rest look very impressive and curious.
Maastricht can offer as many as 4 excursions to local man-made caves. The dungeons are very extensive, it is quite possible to get lost and perish in them, so the underground Maastricht is possible only with a guide with a guided tour in English. There is no central lighting in the caves; sightseers walk with individual lanterns. It is recommended to dress for the excursion at the rate of 10 ° C. You can see the tickets. See underground tours. An adult ticket costs € 7.5 for any tour of the dungeons, duration 1 hour.
The entrance to the North Caves and Fort Sint Peter (built in 1700) are located nearby, you can take tickets to both of these objects at once.
Or at the dock of pleasure boats, not far from the Servatius Bridge, you can buy a complex ticket for a river trip and visit to the Zonneberg Sint Pietersberg caves. The entrance to these caves is located on the banks of the river, they will be taken there and back. For those who are not by car, ideal.
In addition to these caves, there are also Jesuit caves - Jezuïetenberg. The entrance to them is located in a different place than the previous bundle. There, in the caves, you can generally see amazing things, for example, a copy of the Spanish Alhambra, an underground church, Babylonian winged bulls. But excursions to these parts of the cave are available only two Saturdays a month, to be registered. just sign up through the form, there is no online payment, the site is old.
Shops in Maastricht
We visited Maastricht on Saturday. On the market square, trade was going on with might and main, shops in the old city did not lag behind, but according to European tradition, despite the height of trade, all shops closed at 17-00, everything was a day off. The shops are closed on Sunday.
Nevertheless, we managed to make profitable purchases, almost all the first floors of buildings in the center were given over to shops of well-known and not so famous brands, and in July sales of the summer assortment began. The prices, after the expensive Paris, made us very happy.
At the market square, you can enjoy a traditional Dutch herring sandwich and seafood fried in batter.
Naturally, we did not see all the sights of Maastricht, since we spent only half a day in the city, you can probably spend two days for a closer inspection, with visits to museums and underground passages.
Maastricht has its own university and even an airport, as I understand it, he shares it with the German Aachen.
There is a huge bicycle parking near the station. Many bicycles have obviously been there for more than one day, perhaps their owners left somewhere by train and forgot about their iron friend. Some bicycles were clearly taken away for parts.
Maastricht is a great, cozy, quiet town where you can relax your body and soul after visiting such tourist monsters as Paris.
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4 (2
estimates, average: 5,00
out of 5)
If you want to visit the Netherlands, special attention should be paid to one of the oldest cities in the state - Maastricht. It is located near d in the southeast of the country. The border with Belgium is located just 3 kilometers from the city.
The most interesting place in Maastricht is the old town - the historical center, which can be easily walked and viewed in just a few hours. In general, the whole city can be called beautiful. And while the Netherlands is a bit monotonous for many tourists, there is something fresh, new and quite interesting here in Maastricht: cosmopolitan food, a mix of Roman and Spanish ruins, Belgian and French influences in architecture, and a well-known Dutch restraint. And in the landscape there is some fragmentation - ambiguity. Mountainous and hilly places are observed in the city.
Maastricht stands on the Meuse River. Everything here is quite cute and even somewhat exquisite: delicious unique cuisine, cobbled streets, cozy cafes and an elegant atmosphere. The city is located between such states as Belgium and Germany, and therefore, completely and 100% saturated exclusively with the European spirit. Here, most of the residents speak several languages at once: their native - Dutch, French, English, German and even Flemish.
Maastricht climate
Maastricht is located in an area dominated by a mild temperate climate. The average annual air temperature in this area is about + 9.5C. And the relative humidity is 81.1%. has less humidity.
The warmest months are July and August, when during the day the air temperature reaches + 21C, and at night the thermometer drops to + 12C ... + 13C.
But the coldest months are December-February. At this time, the air temperature fluctuates between + 4C ... + 6C in the daytime and at night it drops to -1C ... + 1 ... C.
We get to Maastricht
You can get to Maastricht in several different ways, among which the most optimal and popular is by plane. However, there are as many flights here from abroad as we would like. Direct flights to the international airport deliver passengers from Florence, Porto, Alicante, Barcelona, and Faro. Every day Germanwings takes tourists from Berlin to Maastricht.
In addition to the plane, the Dutch city bordering Belgium can be reached by train. This transport runs in the following directions:
The Hague, which will take about two hours and forty-five minutes to get to. In this case, you need to make a change in Eindhoven. Ticket price - 30 euros;
Utrecht, which can be reached in almost two hours. A ticket there costs 25 euros;
Eindhoven, which is located an hour's drive from Maastricht. The ticket price is 15 euros;
Amsterdam, to which you will have to spend almost two and a half hours on the way. You will need to pay 30 euros for a ticket;
Groningen, the road to which will take about four hours and twenty minutes. The ticket price is 40 euros.
You can also take an international train: to Brussels or Liege (travel time - one and a half hours), and from there get to London or Paris.
The ticket must be bought in advance, because they are not sold in trains, and the conductors often check the passengers for their availability. A stowaway will have to pay a fine of 35 euros.
Buses run to several cities in Belgium: Lanaken, Hasselt, Liege and Tongeren.
Must-sees in Maastricht
All the sights of Maastricht are countless. But the most popular ones are:
Van du Moulin - the remnants of the defensive line. Among them: walls, underground galleries and bastions;
The labyrinth, consisting of twenty thousand caves, located in Sint-Pietersberg, their length is more than 320 km;
The old town with its medieval burgher houses, motes, narrow streets, Town Halls, ancient city gates and the main symbol of the whole of Maastricht - the Cathedral of St. Servatius (Sint-Servas);
Bonnefanten Art Museum;
Episcopal Museum;
Museum of Art and Antiquities;
Onze-Live-Frauwe Church - the Romanesque basilica of the country of incredible beauty;
Church of St. John, which amazes tourists with its 75-meter bell tower;
Church of the Virgin Mary, which still has a crypt, which is about 1000 years old;
The ancient bridge of St. Servantius, spanning the river Meuse.
Prices in Maastricht
Maastricht is rich in its many shops, boutiques and especially bars. The most cheerful of them are located on Platil-Slatil street.
Among the favorite delicacies of locals and travelers alike, one can highlight Italian ice cream. Many tourists prefer the LUNA Rossa cafe - where, in their opinion, this dessert is the most delicious and most varied.
The cost of coffee in stores is about five euros. But among all varieties, the most popular is Blanche Dael. This coffee has an amazing and very rich aroma and unsurpassed taste.
Maastricht (Netherlands) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Maastricht with descriptions, guides and maps.
Maastricht (Netherlands)
Maastricht is a city in the extreme southeast of the Netherlands in the province of Limburg. Located on the Meuse River on the border with Belgium and Germany. Maastricht is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands with a magnificent medieval atmosphere, many old houses, beautiful cathedrals and charming cobbled streets. This is one of the oldest settlements in the Netherlands, founded by the Romans. Also in Maastricht, an agreement on the European Union was signed.
Geography and climate
Practical information
- The population is over 120 thousand people.
- The area is 59 km².
- Language - Dutch (Dutch).
- Currency - Euro.
- Visa - Schengen.
- Time - UTC +1, in summer +2.
- The market is held on Wednesdays and Fridays at Markt. A flea market can be found at Stationsstraat on Saturdays. There is a large Roermond outlet nearby.
History
Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. It was founded by the Romans at the beginning of the 1st century AD. like a military fortress. A bridge was also built here over the Meuse River. During this period, the settlement was called Traektum ad-Mozam. In the 4th century, Maastricht became the seat of a bishop and until the 8th century was considered one of the religious centers of all the Lowlands.
In the 8th century, Liege became the seat of the bishop, and Maastricht itself almost all the Middle Ages belonged to the Liege clergy and the Dukes of Brabant. In 1632, the city became part of the United Provinces - the first independent Dutch state. However, throughout its subsequent history, it experienced a strong Belgian influence and was repeatedly captured by French troops.
How to get there
Maastricht has its own small international airport with the following directions: Barcelona, Alicante, Antalya, Budapest, Heraklion. Amsterdam Schiphol is a 3-hour drive away and Brussels Airport is a 2-hour drive away. Maastricht has direct rail links with most cities in the Netherlands, as well as Liege, Brussels, Paris.
sights
Maastricht has a charming old town with narrow streets, historic squares and old buildings that has retained its medieval character. The Meuse River divides the historic center in two. Several bridges have been built across the main waterway of Maastricht. The most interesting of them is the St. Servatia.
St. Servatia is the oldest bridge in the Netherlands. This magnificent semi-arch building was built in the 13th century and is decorated with a sculpture of the saint of the same name. A walk along the promenade along the Meuse River will provide excellent views of the old city.
Church of st. Martina is one of the most notable structures on the Meuse River embankment. This is a beautiful neo-Gothic church, built in 1858, which replaced an older structure destroyed by the French in the late 18th century.
In the historic center of Maastricht, you can see the old city fortifications, including:
- Remains of the first and second medieval city walls and several towers that date back to the 13th - 14th centuries.
- Remains of 17th and 18th century fortifications with several well-preserved bastions and an early 19th century fortress.
Hell's Gate (Helpoort) is the oldest city gate in the Netherlands and is one of the symbols of Maastricht. This imposing section of medieval fortifications was built in the 13th century and has two towers. The medieval Small Water Gate (Waterpoortje), which was the entrance to the city from the side of the Meuse River, also remained from the city gates. This gate was rebuilt in the 19th century.
In the northern part of the old town is the hill of St. Peter with the eponymous fort of the 18th century. The famous Maastricht dungeons begin under the fortress - a network of underground passages that extend under the old town and have a length of about 200 km. They were built between the 16th and 18th centuries. Some of them are open to the public.
Vrijthof Square is the largest and most beautiful city square in the Netherlands with two magnificent churches and many beautiful historic buildings.
Church of st. Servatia (pictured right) is a Romanesque basilica with important medieval sculptures, a beautiful portal (south side) and a magnificent nave. The church was built in the 6th century over the grave of St. Servatius - the first bishop of Maastricht, who is the patron saint of the city. The rich treasury of the church functions as a museum, where you can see many sacred relics, paintings and statues, as well as a late Romanesque chest with the remains of St. Servatius. In addition, in the church you can see the old crypt, statues of Charlemagne and fragments of the 12th century altar.
Church of st. John the Baptist (pictured left) is the main Protestant church in Maastricht with a high red tower, built in the Gothic style.
The Town Hall is a historic 17th century building considered a masterpiece of the Dutch Baroque. Nearby is the courthouse with an early Renaissance facade.
The Basilica of Our Lady is an imposing Romanesque church dating from the early 11th century. This structure looks like a fortress and was once part of the city's fortifications. In the middle of the 12th century, crypts and transepts were added to the church. The eastern choir was built at the beginning of the 13th century. The structure of the church features a late Gothic choir with a large crypt, a side chapel with the image of the Virgin Mary, and a western crypt that belonged to the early building.
The Bishop's Mill is the original 14th century watermill that is still in operation. At a nearby bakery, you can taste pastries made from the flour she makes.
→ The magical fairy tale of the town of Maastricht
Photo Wikimedia.org
Burgers live in Germany, aesthetes in France, gourmets in Belgium. The Netherlands is famous for its democratic morals. Is it possible to combine these features? As strange as it may sound, but YES. There is an ancient Western European city on the border of the three countries Maastricht... Despite the fact that it belongs to the Netherlands, Maastricht stands out from other Dutch cities.
There are no usual canals, marine symbols and tulips. Maastricht gives the impression of a classic Western European ancient city with cobbled streets, architectural monuments and fortresses. At the same time, the mayor of Maastricht sings songs about the legalization of marijuana, and in addition to medieval churches, the city is famous for a large number of chic boutiques and huge shopping centers. Just the same, a real paradise for the shopaholic.
How to get to Maastricht
If you look at the map of the Netherlands, you will immediately see how "illogical" Maastricht looks on the territory of this country. The impression is that he was hardly recaptured by the Dutch from Germany and Belgium. In principle, there is some truth in this: because of its position, Maastricht was always the first to be attacked by the Spanish, French and German troops, which were heading for Amsterdam. Today, the city is the first thing to meet on the way of several million tourists from the south - from Luxembourg and France. And if you are coming from the north - from Amsterdam, Tripadvice advises you to take a ticket for a comfortable train: two and a half hours from the Dutch capital, and you are there.
How many epithets does Maastricht have?
It so happened that Maastricht is in many ways the “most-most” city not only in Holland, but in all of Western Europe. It would take quite a long time to list all the "merits" of the city, so Tripadvice decided to focus only on the most outstanding ones:
The oldest city in the Netherlands
In 50 BC. the Romans established a settlement on the Meuse River. Then, the favorable strategic position of the city was appreciated by other peoples: in its entire history, the city was besieged 21 times. The ancient city wall of Van du Moulin has been preserved in Maastricht from the previous heroic times. And the Onze Live Frau Church, built in the last millennium, is also a fortress.
We must pay tribute to the resourcefulness of the Dutch: they found a way not only to preserve, but also to give a second life to the almost destroyed architectural monuments. For example, a design hotel is open in one monastery today, university lectures are held in another, and a bookstore is located in the third.
The Sint-Petersburg caves are also open for visits. They stretch along the southern border of the fortress wall. The number of corridors here exceeds 20,000. So you will hear a lot of legends and stories from the life of mysterious casemates during your journey.
The very first bishop
In 380 the first bishop of Saint Servas was appointed in Holland. Today, one of the oldest churches in Holland, the Basilica of Sint-Servas, dominates over his grave. The building is built in the shape of a cross and is decorated with exquisite statues and engravings. In the south tower of the western wall, you can see the largest bell in Holland - the symbol of the city.
Inside is the Basilica's treasury, which consists of gifts presented by people over the course of several centuries. The most impressive are the shrines of St. Thomas and St. Servas, made by Maastricht goldsmiths in the 12th century.
Student city
If, while walking around the city, you come across a group of strangely dressed and painted people, do not be alarmed - these are students playing their own exciting games. The youngest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1976, is located in Maastricht. Since then, life in the city has revived even more. For example, many cafes and bars here are considered to be a gathering place for certain student communities. Here young people gather to discuss science news and drink beer (sometimes together with teachers).
Student houses are particularly impressive. Imagine the architecture of Holland - narrow houses of about 3-5 floors. The rooms of one apartment here are not arranged horizontally, as is customary in our country, but vertically. This is historically due to a lack of space.
Student apartments are located in such apartments. If the opportunity presents itself, be sure to inspect them from the inside. The classic scheme is floors for girls and boys, painted in different colors, and a shared kitchen. Students jointly rent apartments and arrange their own merry parties in them.
City of monuments and city of shopping
Maastricht is considered the second city after Amsterdam in terms of the number of monuments. Moreover, this city is able to fully satisfy the needs of lovers of both classical and contemporary art. Do not forget to go to the place where the Frenchman D'Artagnan, the prototype of the famous musketeer, died during the siege of the city.
Despite the fact that Maastricht is quite a small city, there is a record number of boutiques and shopping centers here. This is the perfect place for shopping. It is especially pleasant to go shopping after a fun evening the night before.
Holland's most carnival city
In Maastricht, you will not only see cooking competitions or Christmas festivities. Carnival in Maastricht can be called truly grandiose. It takes place in February and lasts about five days, during which you will constantly meet princes, geishas, witches, wizards, birds, animals and other heroes of various fairy tales of the world on the streets.
Carnival in Maastricht is considered the largest in the whole of Holland. Therefore, people come here not only from different cities of this country, but also from neighboring Belgium and Germany.
Coziest city
When you start wandering the narrow cobbled streets of the city, you will immediately understand why Maastricht deserves the title of "coziest city". And looking into some lanes generally creates the feeling that you are not on the ground, but in the labyrinths of children's imagination. There are colorful houses of bizarre shapes, flowers, bright garlands and lamps.
On the main square of the city - Freithof - there are small cafes and restaurants. The city theater is also located here, where performances are given daily. By the way, there is only one tram in Maastricht. In 45 minutes, you can take it on a 45-minute tour of the historic center.
Most Fun Place - Mississippi
No, the river in Maastricht is called the Meuse. And Mississippi is the name of an unusual floating coffee shop. Of course, Tripadvice does not recommend that you use even mild drugs. However, if they are already allowed in the Netherlands, then you can go to this unique establishment and have a cup of coffee, while admiring the local audience and funny footage on the screens. After that, it is so pleasant to walk along the beautiful and positive streets of the hospitable city.
Why is it better to go to Maastricht on Christmas Eve?
Because this is where the real fairy tale begins. Holland itself is a fairy-tale country, but in Maastricht, reality and magic in winter intersect almost everywhere. What is only the Christmas market in the central square! You will taste traditional Christmas treats, ride the rides, participate in competitions, and watch theatrical and circus performances.
Life in Maastricht is raging. This small town on the border of three countries attracts thousands of travelers from all over the world. How does it so harmoniously combine the features of several countries? This question is difficult to answer in words. It can only be felt. For example, when you ride brightly colored Christmas horses on a fairground ride. Or the moment you step off the Mississippi.