Discover Benelux | Top Food, Drink & Sleep Spots | Maastricht & South-Limburg
character and, in doing so, has earned its place as a city recognised and respected in its own right, away from the political map.
What to see and do For anyone visiting, there is plenty to see and do. Start with the main square Het Vrijthof and take in its surrounding architecture, moving on to SintServaasbrug, the Basilica of St. Servatius and the Basilica of Our Lady. Museums beckon too with the main art museum Bonnefantenmuseum at the forefront, offering both medieval and contemporary collections, and Museum aan het Vrijthof with its Dutch and Flemish painting and sculptural exhibits from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. For those wanting something other than art, there is the Natural History Museum Maastricht to take you on a journey through the area’s local landscape.
Many markets As you wander through the city, feast on local produce at one of the many 70 | Issue 32 | August 2016
markets (there is also a Christmas Market to be enjoyed during the festive season). Meander through secret alleyways as you go, or, if you want to be organised and to find out all there is to know about the place, join a guided walking tour or take a Maastricht cruise. There are vineyards to be enjoyed just outside the city too, as a contrast to urban life.
Step back in time Going back in history once again, probably to the Roman era, there are the famous Caves of St. Pieter to explore. As a result of marl mining over the centuries, this major tourist attraction has a hidden maze of more than 20,000 tunnels tucked away. In the past people fled to the caves to seek refuge from military sieges and some of their art and writings remain on the walls to this day.
South-Limburg Read more from page 73 The South-Limburg region is not just southerly by name; it is southerly by nature. Take a trip to this charming
part of the Netherlands and you will be struck by a sense of hospitality that is often associated with Europe’s southern countries. The Dutch like to call the merry southern lifestyle bourgondisch, reflective of the southern inhabitants’ epicurean ways. This region feels like an embodiment of the best of Europe: there are both Belgian and German influences thanks to their geographical proximity, as well as a love of gastronomy that is so closely associated with the French lifestyle. But South-Limburg also has a very strong identity of its own, just pay a visit during the carnival season and you will feel the spirit in the air.
Head for the hills This picturesque region is blessed with a verdant hilly landscape, an abundance of stunning castles and impressive historical ruins. Make sure you explore the numerous picturesque villages filled with charming half-timbered houses and be sure to pay a trip to popular tourist cities including Valkenburg, Geleen, Kerkrade, Sittard and Heerlen.