The best city hikes and walks in Vlaams Natuurreservaat Vallei Van De Ziepbeek

nice city center 🤙

The castle and fortress of Pietersheim were the seat of the lordship of Pietersheim. Remains of the 12th-century moated castle of Pietersheim bear witness to a long history. Just a stone's throw from the castle ruins, on the site of the former outbuilding of the moated castle, stands 'Palace Pietersheim', which in its current neoclassical form dates from the early 20th century.

The height difference between Albertkanaal and Zuid-Willemsvaart is 20 m. It is overcome by two locks. Neerharen: single lock of 55 m x 7.50 m - drop of 8.40 m Briegden: single lock of 55 m x 7.50 m - drop of 8.79 m

Next to the magnificent Romanesque Basilica of St. Servatius is the younger church (from the 13th century) dedicated to St. John, which was originally built as a Catholic parish church, but now offers a spiritual home to the town's Protestant fellow citizens.

The statue here is of Saint Cupid, commemorating the Saint Cupid Chapel that stood here in the 17th century but was demolished in 1653. Cozy cafes invite you to linger and watch the hustle and bustle of Maastricht.

The history of Maastricht's Market Square dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was a small square near the first city walls, known for the cloth trade in the nearby Cloth Hall. After the old wall, the Cloth Hall, and the Prisoners' Gate were demolished, the square took on its current form in the 17th century with the construction of the Town Hall. This transformed it into the economic and social heart of the city, surrounded by stately buildings and restaurants, and where weekly markets are held to this day. The Market Square was originally smaller and nestled against the first medieval city walls, now remembered by the Grote Gracht (Great Canal) and Kleine Gracht (Little Canal). Around the 13th century, a Cloth Hall was built to accommodate the flourishing cloth trade, which dominated the city's economy. After 1659, the old wall, Cloth Hall, and Prisoners' Gate were demolished to make way for the current Town Hall, completed in 1664. The Town Hall, centrally located, commands the attention, along with the stately buildings surrounding the Market Square, several of which are protected. Also worth seeing: the statue of Maastricht native Jan Pieter Minckeleers, who invented coal gas, the water pump, and the statue of the Mooswief, which can be found as a separate highlight at https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/5839923

Clearly one of the most successful church repurposings happening just about everywhere. It's a substantial building with a substantial shop, and it's located right in the commercial and historic center of Maastricht, between the market square and the Vrijthof square. Of course, we shouldn't forget the design of the shop and the restoration of the building (see below). Moreover, the bookstore in the Gothic church is sometimes called the most beautiful in the world. The Guardian and CNN, among others, have done so. And that's also a recognition for the designers of Merkx+Girod, who explain their approach for those interested at http://merk-x.nl/retail/dominicanenkerk-maastricht/ Anyone who wants a sneak peek and can play around with 3D representations should definitely take a virtual look inside at https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=TBniLj8176G&sm=2&sr=-1.46,1.08,1.44&sp=49.63,28.58,4.39 If the link for the bookstore's 3D presentation doesn't work, you'll definitely find one on the website: https://www.boekhandeldominicanen.nl/ A brief history: The building was consecrated in 1294 as a monastery church for Dominican priests. After the French invasion, the monastery was dissolved in 1796, after which the church ceased to be used for religious purposes. For centuries, the church served primarily as a storage space and had various functions (including stables and a slaughterhouse). German soldiers plundered and burned down the monastery in 1577; the church was damaged and the library was lost, with restoration not taking place until the 17th century. In 2006, the church was restored and transformed into its present form.

The bridge at the Pietersheim Water Castle is a charming and historic element within the vast Pietersheim estate in Limburg, Belgium. This castle and its surroundings are centuries old and bear a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, and the bridge itself provides a convenient and picturesque access to the water and the surrounding nature.