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Maastricht's origins date back
to the days of the Roman empire, which makes it one of the country's
oldest cities. At a fordable place of the river Maas they built a
bridge and a settlement named Trajectum ad Mosam, which from the third
century on was protected by a wall. Bishop Servatius, the bishop of the
nearby, now Belgian, Tongeren, is
buried on the location of the current church of St. Servaas, which is
named after him. With this Servatius started Maastricht's history as a
bishop's town which would last until the 8th century, when the bishop
moved his court to Luik (Liège in Belgium), although the bishops
kept their claims on the city. |
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A very unusual building, and an intriguing example of Romanesque architecture, is the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady), which has a so-called westwork which obviously once served defencive purposes as well. Parts of it were build using stones from the former Roman castellum. This is the oldest church in Maastricht. Location: O.L. Vrouweplein 9
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Just like the Church of Our lady the St. Servatius, also often called St. Servaas, is essentially a church built in a Romanesque style. The St. Servatius however has seen significant changes in Gothic style, like the side-aisles and transept. The church is especially notable for its big westwork. Location: Keizer Karelplein 6
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The former Dominicans church is one of the oldest Gothic churches in The Netherlands. It dates from the 13th century. Location: Dominikanerkerkstraat 1
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Location: Vrijthof 24
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The St. Matthias originates from the 14th century, with several parts added in the following centuries. As is very usual in this part of the country, most of the church is is constructed using marl from one of the nearby marl pits. This is one of two parish-churches handed over to the protestants in 1632, but it has returned in catholic hands long ago. Location: Boschstraat 99
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This former church is called the Eerste Minderbroederskerk, which in English roughly translates to 'First Franciscan friars church'. In appearance this church is very similar to the Dominicans church, and dates from the same period. The order of the Franciscan friars was expelled from the city twice, and this building has been used as a barracks for a long time. In 1880 monastery and church were given their current function of provincial archive. A second Minderbroederskerk was built in the 17th century elsewhere in the city. Location: Sint Pieterstraat 5
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This white-painted apse belongs to a chapel which was built in the 15th century as part of a new beguinage called the Nieuwenhof, which was situated just within the city-walls. The previous beguinage lay outside the walls, where it was often plagued by floods. Location: Zwingelput 4
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A rare example of a medieval monastery is the former Kruisherenklooster which has survived many centuries and is in a remarkably complete state. The complex forms a square around a courtyard, with the actual monastery forming three of its sides, and the monastery-church at the fourth side. The complex was recently rebuilt into a hotel. Location: Kruisherengang 21
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One of only a very few churches in The Netherlands that were built in the Baroque style is the Augustijnenkerk (Church of the Augustinians) from 1661. It is no longer in use as a church, and now serves a famous local choir as a rehearsal-room. Location: Kesselskade 43
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The Walloon church dates from 1732-1733. It consists of a centralized space of twelve sides and a simple tower of about the same height as the church itself. It was designed by Thomas Comhaire, an architect from Luik/Liège, and replaced a medieval chapel which had stood on this location and had been used as a Walloon church previously. But as the Walloon community grew, this chapel became too small, especially when in 1685 many French Huguenots fled to Maastricht. Although the descendants of the Wallonians and French refugees have integrated in the local society long since, in this church there are still regularly services in the French language. Location: Sint Pieterstraat 6
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This St. Martinus is one of architect P.J.H. Cuypers' earlier works and dates from 1858, a replacement for an older church. The church is similar to many of Cuypers' earliest churches, being a cruciform basilica with a tower, all in a neo-Gothic style inspired by early French Gothicism. Location: Rechtstraat 2
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The St. Johannes de Doper
is the church of the former village of Limmel. This neo-Gothic church
was
designed by
C. Weber and built in 1863-1864 incorprating an older tower. The
current tower dates from 1867, the choir was replaced in
1913. |
The neo-Gothic St. Pieter op de Berg, since 1954 officially named Allerheiligste verlosser en St. Petrus, in the former village of St. Pieter, is the first church by architect J. Kayser and was built in 1874-1875. Location: Ursulinenweg 2, St. Pieter |
Location: Van Akenweg 63, Oud-Caberg |
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The St. Lambertuskerk was the first church that was built outside the 14th-century city-walls. This impressive church in neo-Romanesque style was designed by architect J.H.H. van Groenendael and built during the First World War. Location: Koningin Emmaplein 7
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The Heilig-Hartkerk was designed by A.J.N. Boosten and J. Ritzen. Construction started in 1920. Unusual for that time, it's mostly built out of concrete, and was the subject of much criticism. Two towers that were in the original plan were never built. Location: Heerderweg 1
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The St. Hubertus is a
remarkable
building in
Expressionistic style, designed by J.H.J. Kayser (son of J. Kayser)
and built in 1924-1925. |
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The O.L. Vrouw van Lourdes
was
built in 1936-1938 and was designed by F.P.J.
Peutz, who used the
early christian basilicas as an example. The church is built of natural
stone found in the region; marl on a bottom layer of kunrader stone.
The narthex and tower were added in 1941.
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Peutz als designed the St. Pieter
beneden de Berg, although this time in conjunction with W.
Sprenger.
The church was built in 1938-1939, also using marl and kunrader stone. |
The Onbevlekt Hart van Maria
dates from 1951-1952 and is one of several churches designed by
architect A.J.N. Boosten that were built after his death. Unusual is
the tower-shaped choir, which was never completed. |
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