Head to Foot Top Ten Maastricht
Maastricht got into my system sometime around the end of 2006.
Work took me there, I had to create a teambuilding challenge around the city for a Dutch based company, who make sat nav systems. The brief was to get them out of the meeting room and spend some time having a look at Maastricht.
Yes that was work; create team games for the corporate world. Sixteen years on the road, more miles travelled in a year than most mange in a lifetime. Extreme luxury hotels, tedious conference venues, small hotels, bed and breakfasts sometimes the back of a van.
Maastricht was the city, which I needed to revisit I was lucky enough for the client ask for the challenge again. Managing another couple of visits. Since then there have been many returns. I read somewhere that once you visit Maastricht you keep going back until you end up there. Hope this is true.
The purpose of the visits was to create an audio walk for the town. This was for a project of my own, Head to Foot Audio Tours. Many streets wandered, corners turned, doorways peered through. Many hours spent researching buildings, history, customs and culture plus days pouring over Dutch dictionaries preparing phonetic pronunciations for the actor who was to record the walk. This love and passion led to the The Maastricht Tour.
The tour is around 80 minutes of audio. Recorded in tracks can be paused or played again, giving the listener the opportunity to spend as much time on the wander as they wish. Half a day, full day, two days. Listen before you leave, plan your stroll.
The cost of the walk is £6.00. Maps can be downloaded free.
Since Maastricht I have created two walks for Antwerp and one for Bruges. Ready to record is a script for a London walk.
Here is a very personal top ten must see sites in Maastricht. Once you reach a certain age top ten lists are one of those things that can change day by day. This list could be completely different in a few months. I would like to think if you only have a few hours in the town and don't fancy the download, this top ten will give you a start point.
Enjoy.
Yes another church in my top tens. Once again for me, a jaw dropper. Pay a few Euros to enter, the riches in the treasury are the greatest I have witnessed. Follow the footsteps of millions on pilgrims to the crypt of Saint Servaas, entombed in 384.
Follow the tiled maze in the royal entrance. Sense the power and mysticisms of medieval Catholicism in the Low Countries.
Take a drink on Vrijthof
There are around 400 bars in Maastricht, to many for one man. I always pop into In Den Ouden Vogelstruys. The Old Ostrich for a couple of beers in an atmospheric setting.
Sorry another church, not sorry, another fabulous building. Must stem from an almost religious free up bringing. The stone at the base is from Roman times. Lighting a candle with the locals at the shrine to the Virgin of the Sea, is something I cannot resist. Quite a shrine.
One of the few remaining working watermills in town. Pop in for a coffee and a slice of Vlai, an open topped pie, guess that’s a tart then. Speciality of the region. Ask for it as if saying fly with a V. Delicious.
Wandering the remains of the City Wall
Many parts of the old wall are still accessible; the best bits are looking across the river to Wyck. Or next to the Jeker, heading towards the university. See if you can spot the lady with a giraffe. Mind the steps at Helport.
Having spent 16 years travelling the world working, staying in hotels this is the most eye-catching of them all. Built inside a church designed by dynamic imaginations. Great bar and good Vlai. A monument used is a monument saved. Outstanding
Oh a church! This time it’s a bookshop. Its 800 years old. Staggeringly impressive as is the stock, tremendous English section, add to this a first class coffee shop. I want to live in Maastricht.
Strolling across St Servaas Bridge
This stroll makes me feel so European. Astride the Maas, a crossing point for centuries, part of the Roman Road leading to the coast and then Britain. Even better if a loaded barge is ploughing up stream.
Raw herring in the Market
I’ve never had a bad meal in Maastricht, so many great restaurants to chose. I am inexplicably drawn to the stalls in the market, close to the happy housewife. I have an urge, a desire for a fix of those raw herrings and onion. If not your taste all sorts of places here for a snack on the move.
The smell of herring does linger on the finger beware.
Wandelen/ Walking
This is a first rate city to just wander around, the old city on the west of the might Maas River teems with alleyways to explore, ancient walls, roman sites, sculptures dotted around. Quality bars, restaurants and independent shops full of those lovely items that you never seem to find at home. Cross the bridge and enter Wyck, a little more business like. Take the path beside the river heading for a building that looks like a hand grenade, The Bonnenfantenmuseum. Here find a unique collection of classical and modern art. Wandering and being curious will lead to all sorts of imaginative architecture. Maastricht is a place to wander at leisure
This is just a taster of what you will find on the audio walk
Click here for the Head to Foot Gallery
walk the talk
Coming soon Berlin, Lisbon, Ghent, Vienna,Valencia, Bhutan, Katmandu and Kendal Top Tens.
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