The deep South

Sometimes one is forced to stay somewhere, and sometimes one finds without really looking for it something that appears to be worth the detour, as the Michelin green guide says.

Saint John's cathedral - 's-Hertogenbosch

That happened when we had to stay in the Southern (Roman Catholic) part of Netherlands for a couple of days in order to acquire a new passport. The Romanesque churches of Maastricht as well as the one in Roermond I only knew from the pictures on “L'Europe Romane”, and both towns are located less than an hour drive from Den Bosch, where we were staying.

Basilica of our Lady - Maastricht

In Maastricht we could park the car in a parking garage next to the Basilica of our Lady, which was open to the public, and which turned out to be a revelation. The capitals in the apse, where it is too dark to see anything properly, can be lit after inserting a € 0.50 coin in a switch box, an investment more than worth it. The outside of the church, in Mosan and Rhineland style is very impressive. The architecture is completely different from the one we know in Burgundy. Only when we left the church I saw the notice “No photographing”; too late, fortunately!

Basilica of our Lady - Maastricht

The Saint Servatius basilica I found, at least from the inside, less interesting. However, I must add that the Emperor’s hall (certainly worth a visit) is closed for visitors during winter, and in summer can only be visited during guided tours. However, the treasury with among other things the reliquary of Saint-Servatius made up for what we missed.

Basilica of Saint Servatius - Maastricht

On our way back we made a stop in Roermond, where we found (with difficulty) the Minster of our Lady. This church however was closed, and in winter only open on Saturdays during 2 hours, and in summer on weekdays during 3 hours. Although we managed to peer inside through a glass door, I would have preferred to walk around at my own leasure.

Minster of our Lady - Roermond

Having been born and bred in the Calvinistic Western part of the Netherlands, the almost Burgundian atmosphere in the Southern part of the country was a pleasant surprise to me, even on a cold, windy day in winter. I will certainly go back to Maastricht if we ever happen to be in the vicinity on a warm, sunny summer’s day!

The link to the website of La Tuilerie de Chazelle can be found here.