Maastricht
It's History and Two City Walks
by Ruud en Ineke/ Sonja
Maastricht is regarded as one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands (rivaling
with Nijmegen). It was founded by the Romans.
Since we are all here for the André Rieu open-air concerts on the Vrijthof,
there will be plenty of time during the day to explore the city and its
surroundings. Put on your sneakers. Be sure you’ll be back at the Vrijthof at 5
pm (daily sound-check!!). You won’t want to miss that!!
This guide gives a brief overview of the history of Maastricht.
Furthermore, it contains two walks, one through the city center (history) -see
page 4- and one to the St. Pietersberg (St. Peter’s mountain, 109 meters
“high”), see page 23, with a nice stroll through the countryside.
In both walks, we’ll visit places related to André, including his castle (named
“de Torentjes”, which means “little towers”).
History of Maastricht
If you start digging a hole in Maastricht’s city center, you will make a journey
through time. In the past century, archeologists had several opportunities to
make such a journey.
In 1983, the Hotel Derlon on the corner of Onze Lieve Vrouweplein (Our Dear
Lady square) and the Plankstraat, was completely rebuilt. Underneath the
hotel, archeologists found remains of a Roman temple complex. Due to the
significance of these finds, building plans were amended. The basement of
the hotel has become a small museum. You can now have a first hand view of
the city’s history.
Six meters below the current street level lies an ancient Roman road, a
gravel road with several large building stones and a cistern. Most peculiar is
the façade of a shrine and a temple court finished with red cement. The
middle of this court was dominated by statues and altars. Fragments of one
massive pillar, dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter, (Zeus in Greek) still
remain visible today.
Also remains of a Roman souvenir shop were found. The actual temple is
possibly located under what is now the “Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk” (R.C.
church).
Roman Maastricht was small. Twenty years before the find of the temple
complex, the remains of a Roman bath was found a few tens of meters away
near the Stokstraat (Stick street). The contours of these Roman baths can still
be seen in the modern pavement of the small square “Op de Thermen”.
Around these two public buildings made of stone, the local community built
houses from wood and clay. Behind the houses was a small garden with a
shed and a water basin or pit.
Maastricht was founded in the first century AD after the Romans had marched
from the south until they reached the river Rhine. To supply the soldiers in the
various forts, the Romans built a network of roads. One of the important roads
in this region was the road from Boulogne-sur-mer (France), through Bavay
and Tongeren (Belgium) to Cologne (Germany). Rivers were major obstacles
and this road led to a shallow and easy to cross part of the river Maas
(Meuse). The Roman name “Mosae Trajectum” (place to cross the Maas)
turned into “Maastricht”. The Romans built a wooden bridge, the only fixed
river crossing to the North Sea! This crossroad was an ideal place for a
harbor, trade and lodges.
A small memorial (at the Maas boulevard, upstream from the Servaas bridge)
still marks the place where the original bridge stood. In 2005 it was decorated
with a replica of a Roman statue recovered from the river.
Initially the Roman city had no walls. For more then two centuries, the
inhabitants relied on the fortifications along the river Rhine. When the
influence of Rome declined in the third century, German tribes started to raid
the area.
Around 270 they captured Maastricht and burned down the city.
Then the Romans reconsidered the defense of the empire. At strategic places,
garrisons were stationed and fortifications built.
The river crossing at Maastricht was such a place. At the beginning of the
fourth century, the bridge was rebuilt. On the left bank, next to the bridge, a
“Castrum” or walled army camp was built.
The remains of the public buildings, temples and other (grave) monuments
served as building material for this wall. Based on excavations, the late-
Roman Castrum could be mapped. It was rectangular in shape, and covered
an area of around 1.5 hectare (3.7 acres). It had ten towers and the walls
were between 8 and 10 meters high (26 -33 ft.). Within this area, the people
were safe.
Long after the Romans had left, the Castrum kept on dominating the area.
Around 1000 AD the walls and towers were taken down and houses were
built. Some of the largest blocks of stone were used to build the Onze Lieve
Vrouwekerk (church). Those stones can still be seen today as the last traces
of Roman occupancy in modern time.
The city walk on page 4 will lead you to most of the places described above.
Duration of this walk: 3 - 5 hours.
It's History and Two City Walks
by Ruud en Ineke/ Sonja
Maastricht is regarded as one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands (rivaling
with Nijmegen). It was founded by the Romans.
Since we are all here for the André Rieu open-air concerts on the Vrijthof,
there will be plenty of time during the day to explore the city and its
surroundings. Put on your sneakers. Be sure you’ll be back at the Vrijthof at 5
pm (daily sound-check!!). You won’t want to miss that!!
This guide gives a brief overview of the history of Maastricht.
Furthermore, it contains two walks, one through the city center (history) -see
page 4- and one to the St. Pietersberg (St. Peter’s mountain, 109 meters
“high”), see page 23, with a nice stroll through the countryside.
In both walks, we’ll visit places related to André, including his castle (named
“de Torentjes”, which means “little towers”).
History of Maastricht
If you start digging a hole in Maastricht’s city center, you will make a journey
through time. In the past century, archeologists had several opportunities to
make such a journey.
In 1983, the Hotel Derlon on the corner of Onze Lieve Vrouweplein (Our Dear
Lady square) and the Plankstraat, was completely rebuilt. Underneath the
hotel, archeologists found remains of a Roman temple complex. Due to the
significance of these finds, building plans were amended. The basement of
the hotel has become a small museum. You can now have a first hand view of
the city’s history.
Six meters below the current street level lies an ancient Roman road, a
gravel road with several large building stones and a cistern. Most peculiar is
the façade of a shrine and a temple court finished with red cement. The
middle of this court was dominated by statues and altars. Fragments of one
massive pillar, dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter, (Zeus in Greek) still
remain visible today.
Also remains of a Roman souvenir shop were found. The actual temple is
possibly located under what is now the “Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk” (R.C.
church).
Roman Maastricht was small. Twenty years before the find of the temple
complex, the remains of a Roman bath was found a few tens of meters away
near the Stokstraat (Stick street). The contours of these Roman baths can still
be seen in the modern pavement of the small square “Op de Thermen”.
Around these two public buildings made of stone, the local community built
houses from wood and clay. Behind the houses was a small garden with a
shed and a water basin or pit.
Maastricht was founded in the first century AD after the Romans had marched
from the south until they reached the river Rhine. To supply the soldiers in the
various forts, the Romans built a network of roads. One of the important roads
in this region was the road from Boulogne-sur-mer (France), through Bavay
and Tongeren (Belgium) to Cologne (Germany). Rivers were major obstacles
and this road led to a shallow and easy to cross part of the river Maas
(Meuse). The Roman name “Mosae Trajectum” (place to cross the Maas)
turned into “Maastricht”. The Romans built a wooden bridge, the only fixed
river crossing to the North Sea! This crossroad was an ideal place for a
harbor, trade and lodges.
A small memorial (at the Maas boulevard, upstream from the Servaas bridge)
still marks the place where the original bridge stood. In 2005 it was decorated
with a replica of a Roman statue recovered from the river.
Initially the Roman city had no walls. For more then two centuries, the
inhabitants relied on the fortifications along the river Rhine. When the
influence of Rome declined in the third century, German tribes started to raid
the area.
Around 270 they captured Maastricht and burned down the city.
Then the Romans reconsidered the defense of the empire. At strategic places,
garrisons were stationed and fortifications built.
The river crossing at Maastricht was such a place. At the beginning of the
fourth century, the bridge was rebuilt. On the left bank, next to the bridge, a
“Castrum” or walled army camp was built.
The remains of the public buildings, temples and other (grave) monuments
served as building material for this wall. Based on excavations, the late-
Roman Castrum could be mapped. It was rectangular in shape, and covered
an area of around 1.5 hectare (3.7 acres). It had ten towers and the walls
were between 8 and 10 meters high (26 -33 ft.). Within this area, the people
were safe.
Long after the Romans had left, the Castrum kept on dominating the area.
Around 1000 AD the walls and towers were taken down and houses were
built. Some of the largest blocks of stone were used to build the Onze Lieve
Vrouwekerk (church). Those stones can still be seen today as the last traces
of Roman occupancy in modern time.
The city walk on page 4 will lead you to most of the places described above.
Duration of this walk: 3 - 5 hours.
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