| Toerisme |
| Meerssen: an oasis of rest in the Limburg countryside A treasure to be rediscovered Travellers in search of tranquillity and natural beauty will be enchanted by Meerssen, a serene rural municipality in the heart of South Limburg. Come and enjoy the open spaces and the quiet charm of this delightful area, let yourself be conquered by its idyllic landscapes, beautiful panoramas and rich cultural and historical heritage! A rich history Meerssen was already inhabited long before our era. After the Roman legions of Julius Caesar defeated Ambiorix, the leader of the local Eburon tribe, the region became widely Romanised. Excavations in Meerssen’s surroundings uncovered many artefacts dating back from the Roman period: not only a large amount of pottery shards but even the foundations of a Roman villa - known as “villa rusticae”. It was only much later however, that Meerssen truly entered the annals of history. In the year 751 the Carolingian dynasty founded a palatinate and built a chapel in Meerssen, as an exact replica of the palatinate at Aix-la-Chapelle. Both palatinates filled leading positions in Western Europe at the time. The Carolingian kings, who succeeded the illustrious emperor Charlemagne, took residence in the palatinate of Meerssen. Two important treaties were later signed in Meerssen:
From that moment on Meerssen became known as a deanery, benefiting from local immunity. The canons of the secular chapter led the deanery until 1134, when the secular chapter was replaced by the ecclesiastical chapter, consisting of monks from Reims. By then the chapel of the palatinate had been enlarged into a Roman church which could accommodate both monks and parishioners. In 1320 difficulties between monks and parishioners led to the creation of a Gothic choir in the building, reserved for the monks. The church was later entirely rebuilt in Gothic style. The deanery was destroyed after the French revolution. The Basilica of Meerssen, as the church is now known, is considered one of the most beautiful examples of gothic architecture in the Netherlands. A jewel not to be missed! The municipality of Meerssen and its three agglomerations Since the redistribution on 1 January 2001of the municipalities in South Limburg, the municipality of Meerssen includes three separate agglomerations. Ulestraten: a distinctive history The name of Ulestraten might refer to possible Roman origins. Some historians suggest that the name Ulestraten comes from the word Ula (pot) and could be linked to the artefacts of Roman pottery found in the area. But this theory is rejected by other historians. It is an established fact, however, that the two Roman highroads between Maastricht and Heinsberg and Maastricht and Tudderen ran through Ulestraten. In the Middle Ages Ulestraten was attached to the deanery of Meerssen. In 1794, under the French authority, it became an independent municipality, but nowadays it has been reunited with Meerssen. Ulestraten benefits from an idyllic location on beautiful slopes. Its splendid panoramas and rich flora and fauna will undoubtedly enthuse visitors. Hikers can also enjoy beautiful trails leading to Meerssen or Valkenburg! Geulle and Bunde: two fairytale-gardens Geulle and Bunde are two picturesque villages on the Meuse and the Geul rivers, situated in a pleasant scenery of hills and valleys. Geulle’s highest point competes with Mount Saint Peter (St Pietersberg) in Maastricht. The terraced landscape between the two villages is largely hidden from view by woods which are nowadays protected as a natural reserve. Hardly touched by tourism Bunde and Geulle are an eldorado for hikers and nature lovers. Frankish homesteads, churches, castles and farmhouses will remind visitors of ancient times. The poet and writer Felix Rutten once chanted Bunde and Geulle as fairytale gardens. Come and visit these two beautiful villages, discover for yourself how truthful his words are! Geographical location Meerssen is located to the north of the neighbouring city of Maastricht. The two city centres are no more than six kilometres apart. The same distance separates Meerssen from Valkenburg. Meerssen can be easily reached from the A2 motorway between Maastricht and Eindhoven, and the motorway Maastricht-Heerlen; or by railway - there is a train station both in Meerssen and Bunde; by waterway through the Meuse river and the Juliana-canal; or by air (Maastricht-Aachen Airport). Thanks to its central geographical location in the “country without borders”, Meerssen offers many opportunities for day trips to Liège, Aix-la-Chapelle, Cologne, Vianden, Clervaux, Echternach and Givet. The Belgian Ardennes or the German Eifel will provide the perfect challenge for the trained cyclist!
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