July
22, 2002: Maastricht, where three countries meet Maastricht
is the oldest city in Holland (more than 2 thousand years old!), founded by the
Romans around 50 AD. However, the
antiquities and museums that tell this long history make up only part of the
innumerable attractions of this unique city.
Maastricht is also famous for its street carnival and for its
cosmopolitan feel that it inherited from the cultures of the neighboring
countries. Located
on the southern tip of Holland, very close to Belgium and Germany, Maastricht
offers a special atmosphere that is different from the rest of the country due
to a strong influence coming from these neighboring countries.
Some even say that it is a foreign city within Holland itself, despite it
being a capital of a province, Limburg. In Maastricht, the Dutch and Belgian cultures become intertwined with additional and original ingredients from Germany. There are just as many cars there with license plates from Belgium than from Holland circulating around the streets, as well as some license plates from Germany. For those who enjoy beer, it is possible to enjoy Dutch, Belgian, and German brands and savor cosmopolitan culinary influenced by the three neighboring countries. And since it is Dutch, Maastricht could not be without the hundreds of bicycles that are so common to any city of this country. Its busy downtown roads, street artists, and different restaurants are reminiscent of Brussels in Belgium. Many of the attractions in Maastricht are downtown and it is possible to visit them by foot. The large bridge that crosses the Maas River unveils a beautiful view of the city. In a blend of both Belgian and Dutch styles, Maastricht has old churches, squares (or places), with a special mention to be given to the city hall building and the open-air markets that are typically Dutch. Close to the City Hall is a square where the two churches of the city are located, one next to the other. The magnificent Basilica of St. Servan is a church in a Romanian style dated from 1039 and still has relics inside of it. Right next door is the St. John Church, having a Gothic style and also does not lack in terms of beauty. A curious fact is that its tower is reddish and this differentiates it from the other churches in Europe. Inside the St. John Church, there are still gravestones in the floor showing where important people were buried in the underground tombs. This was also a common practice in other churches in Holland and maybe in Europe. Some stones still show the inscriptions of the names and sometimes of their professions, but few of them with dates. Though it was built in the 13th century, in 1633 this church became protestant, which demonstrates a little of the religious duality that exists in Holland. Around the city, there is an underground labyrinth of around 10 km. These are the caves of St. Pietesburg, a place sought out by tourists. Other very interesting tourist points are the wall and the forts that surround part of the city, close to the center. The ruins date back to the time of the medieval wars and battles. The park close to this location provides a beautiful walk along the wall. The
Carnival of Maastricht The
Carnival of Maastricht is famous throughout Europe and has been gaining
international recognition. It takes
place in February and follows the molds of the carnival in Vienna, becoming one
of the largest festivities in Holland. Obviously
it is very different from the Brazilian "carnaval" because the
European carnival is celebrated in the light of the day when the people can walk,
dance, and drink in the streets. The parades are made up of sophisticated costumes with much
painting and masks, but without nude bodies, especially since the carnival takes
place in the winter in Europe. In
Maastricht, all the people dress up and bring animation to the streets with the
sound of bands. For those who are
in Europe in February, it is a beautiful festivity to see as it represents a
little of the spirit of an old and magical city that is at the same time very
expansive and happy. Images of the St. Servan Basilica:
1, 2,
3 City Hall: 1 Wall: 1 Translated by Traduzca
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