Holiday apartment in Meerssen: Culture, nature and Via Belgica
Meerssen combines impressive architectural history with a varied landscape of forests, springs and marl. There are also paths through the region’s Roman past, historic sites and viticulture.
Culture
The focal point is the Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament, a three-aisled cruciform church made of marlstone. Its defining architectural elements include the striking crossing tower, the five-sided apse and the neo-Gothic burial chapel of the Regout family. The richly decorated interior also includes a nine-storey sacrament tower from the 16th century. The central part of the church was built around 800 in the Romanesque style by Charlemagne; in 1938, Pope Pius XI elevated the church to basilica status. The Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament is also known as the “masterpiece of Meuse Gothic”. The Via Belgica walking route “Goddess Minerva” takes visitors to the bronze relief “Marsna” by Wil van der Laan opposite the basilica.
Further traces of history can be found at various locations in and around Meerssen. The Oliemolen is a former water complex dating back to the 18th century. The Bridge Folly is part of the Proosdijpark, which was designed in the English landscape style, and was built partly from material from the former basilica tower. Opposite Raar 52 stands a wayside chapel dating from 1909, which is part of the historic row of buildings in the hamlet of Raar. Hoeve Rahr is one of the former agricultural farm buildings of Huize Rahr and is characterised by a double courtyard. The Belgian King Leopold I donated a small church to the Protestants, which was named Leopoldskerkje after him.
Nature
De Dellen is a varied woodland area between the Geul and the Curfsgroeve quarry. There, steep hillside forests rise from the valley to quiet plateau forests. Below De Dellen lies the Schenkgroeve, the only underground marl quarry in the municipality of Meerssen. The historic Proosdijpark complements this landscape with a park for walking, a pond and centuries-old trees.
Numerous springs rise in the Bunderbos. Babbling streams and hidden pools characterise the area; the rare fire salamander is also found in the pools. Thus, very different landscapes stand side by side in the surrounding area: wooded slopes and plateau forests in De Dellen, underground marl in the Schenkgroeve, and springs, streams and pools in the Bunderbos.
History
The Groote Molen also reaches far back into history. It is already mentioned in Queen Gerberga’s deed of donation from 968 and is probably considered one of the oldest mills in Limburg. At BC mOERveld, visitors can learn about the era of the first farmers around 7,000 years ago. Active programmes, projects and workshops on cultural heritage, nature and sustainability are offered there, and volunteers, schools and groups can register for them.
Experiences
The Via Belgica walking route “Goddess Minerva” uses a free app with GPS guidance. In Meerssen, Via Belgica also offers free audio walks via the Via Belgica app. Historical figures guide visitors along archaeological sites and through the region’s Roman past. The Via Belgica audio walks connected with Meerssen are available in Dutch, German, French and English. At BC mOERveld, visitors can, among other things, bake their own bread and practise archery.
Food and drink
Viticulture and distilling are also part of the region’s diversity. Wijngaard Raarberg is home to 7,000 vines of the classic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties. Wijngaard Raarberg produces exclusively sparkling wines according to the Méthode Traditionnelle. In Moorveld, Mwórveld Distillery produces whisky, gin, graanjenever, vodka and eau-de-vie. Fresh vegetables, fruit and fish are sold at the weekly market in Meerssen on Thursdays.
Getting there
The municipality of Meerssen can be reached via the A2 motorway and also via the A79 motorway. Bunde has an NS railway station, enabling travel to the municipality of Meerssen by train.
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For further navigation to the directly associated places, the pages for Meerssen, Bunde and Geulle are available.
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