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![]() Maastricht (L) Maastricht is one of the country's
oldest cities, already having been an urban settlement before the fall of the
Roman empire. 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. In 1920 Maastricht's territory was expanded with the villages Sint Pieter, Limmel, Heugem, Caberg and Wolder, and in 1970 with Amby, Heer, Scharn, Itteren and Borgharen. Only the latter two are still seperate villages, although like the others they are officially part of 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 several churches in Baroque style built in Maastricht is the
former Jesuite church.
It was built in 1606-1614 and was designed by
Jesuite architect P. Huyssens. After the Jesuite order was disbanded in
1773 the church was turned into a theatre. The original facade was
mutilated in 1955. |
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Also in Baroque style, but much better preserved, is the Augustijnenkerk (Church of the Augustinians) from 1859-1661. 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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![]() In c. 1700 the Tweede Minderbroederskerk, or 'second Franciscan friars church', was built, after the Franciscans had returned to Maastricht. The church was completed in 1708. In 1825-1829 the church became a courthouse, and in 1995-1998 it was once again converted, this time to serve as part of the university. Location: Minderbroedersberg 4-6 |
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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. . Location: Sint Pieterstraat 6
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This St. Martinus in the Wijck neighbourhood 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. |
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C. Weber also designed the St. Walburga
in Amby, which was built in 1865-1866. The church has lost much of its
original look. In 1927 a transept and a new choir were added, while in
1956-1957 the nave was extended with side-aisles.
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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 Johannes Kayser and was built in 1874-1875. Location: Ursulinenweg 2, St. Pieter |
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Location: Van Akenweg 63, Oud-Caberg |
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![]() Also designed by J. Kayser is this cemetery chapel. The octagonal chapel was built in 1885-1890 and is in neo-Gothic style. Location: Tongerseweg, 292 |
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Another J. Kayser-made design is the church of Borgharen, the St. Cornelius, although the church was called St. Martinus until 1979. It was built in 1887-1888. Location: Kerkstraat 10, Borgharen |
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![]() The H.H. Petrus en Paulus en San Salvator in Wolder dates from 1896-1898 and is a three-aisled basilica in neo-Gothic style. It was designed by L. Keuller and is the only church by this architect. Location: Mgr. Vrankenplein 2, Wolder |
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![]() The St. Petrus Banden in the former village of Heer is a cruciform basilica in neo-Romanesque style, designed by C. Franssen and built in 1903-1905. Location: Dorpstraat, Heer |
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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 Jules H.J. Kayser (son of
Johannes
Kayser)
and built in 1924-1925. |
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The Sterrekerk or Sterrepleinkerk is former protestant church in Traditionalist style, built in 1926. Its architect was a J. Kortlang. The church was built for the Gereformeerden, but today is an artist's workshop. Location: Sterreplein 2, Wyck |
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The St. Theresia dates from 1933-1934 and is one of J.H.H. van Groenendael's last churches. He designed it together with his son H.F.M. van Groenendael. It's a big church in a combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles and is built of natural stone. Location: Sint Theresiaplein 8 |
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The St. Antonius van Padua in Scharn was designed by A. Swinkels and built in 1936-1938. It's a three-aisled cruciform pseudo-basilica in Traditionalist style, built of marl. Location: Weth. van Caldenborghlaan, Scharn |
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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. |
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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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![]() The church of the former village of Heugem is the St.Michaël. It has a tower from the second half 18th century and a neo-Romanesque choir from 1905. The wide nave in Traditionalist style was designed by F.P.J. Peutz and built in 1960-1961. Location: Heugemer Pastoorstraat 15, Heugem |
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