Holiday apartment in Bocholtz: Roman history and routes in the Land van Kalk

Bocholtz combines Roman history, limestone architecture, and routes through a hilly landscape. The village may be particularly appealing if you want your holiday apartment to be not only a base for relaxing days, but also a starting point for shared discoveries. Historic farmsteads, chapels, hiking trails, and cycling routes create a varied picture of the village, which can be explored in different ways depending on the pace of holiday you prefer.

Land van Kalk and Roman traces

The Land van Kalk is a plateau of Kunrader limestone extending from Aachen via Bocholtz to Voerendaal and into the surrounding area of Heerlen. Four large Roman villas were discovered in the “Roman Valley” between Bocholtz and Aachen. A Roman ash chest and part of a Roman road were also uncovered in Bocholtz’s “Roman Valley.” In the fields of Vlengendaal, a cultivated landscape created by the Romans for growing spelt has remained virtually unchanged. Villa Vlengendaal had a monumental main building with two side buildings.

Chapels, farmsteads, and local history

Bocholtz’s cultural heritage includes the Roman Catholic parish church of Sint Jacobus de Meerdere. The three-aisled cruciform basilica was built in two phases and replaced a nearby medieval chapel. Kapel Overhuizen is a chapel built of limestone, with a roof turret and a gabled roof; it stands in the inner courtyard of Hoeve Overhuizen. The preserved complex includes outbuildings, barns, the chapel, and the farmstead, built of limestone as a closed courtyard. Hoeve Overhuizen was already mentioned as a house and fief in 1330. The medieval Scholtissenhof was the residence of the schout, who at that time was both mayor and judge.

Hiking and cycling around Bocholtz

The “Paden van bezinning” program comprises two hikes of 7.9 km and 7.8 km through Simpelveld and Bocholtz. The two hikes pass through the church villages and combine religious heritage with local history. The “Romeinse bedrijvigheid in Bocholtz” hiking route focuses on the fact that people already lived and worked in and around what is now Bocholtz during Roman times. For longer days of cycling, the 23.1 km “Rondom plateau Bocholtz Simpelveld” cycling route is a good option; it explores the hilly plateau between the Selzerbeek and the Eyserbeek. The different route lengths help you adapt your excursions to your preferred daily rhythm.

Choose a holiday apartment in Bocholtz to suit your travel plans

When choosing a holiday apartment in Bocholtz, you can therefore first decide which topics should shape your stay. Those interested in Roman history will find various points of interest in the Roman Valley, in the fields of Vlengendaal, and at the Roman Exhibition. The original of a special ash chest found in Bocholtz in 2003 can be seen during a visit to the Roman Exhibition in Bocholtz. The Roman Exhibition Bocholtz offered the opportunity to visit it every Sunday afternoon. If you prefer exploring on foot, you can include the two “Paden van bezinning” hikes or the route focusing on Roman activity in your plans. As another local destination, Simpelveld can also be visited.

To the higher-level travel overview: Simpelveld.