Trip Advice Maastricht Aachen
Dec 4th, 2007, 05:29 PM
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Trip Advice Maastricht Aachen
I'm heading to the Maastricht Aachen area in April 2008. This will be my 3rd trip to Nederland, but 1st to Limburg province & Germany. What are the popular attractions/activities?? I like nature, music, history (especially military), walks, boating trips, beer, good food, etc. Would a day-trip to Luxembourg City (or an overnight to Heidelberg) be reasonable to do on a 7-day trip?
Dec 4th, 2007, 06:35 PM
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We found Maastrict to be a wonderful old town that's fun to explore, with lots of interesting history, and at least two very impressive churches - the Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek, and St. Servaasbasiliek and it's rich collection in the Treasury. I would give it a full day to visit.
My husband has been talking about going back to Luxembourg City since the day that we left. He found it to be a most fascinating city, as did I. The geography of the city, with it's different levels, is the main attraction. There is a lovely park in the valley below the city, where you can mingle with nature walking along the many paths (walk down and take the elevator back up). My husband really wants to go back to Luxembourg City to spend more time exploring the Bock Casemates - a series of tunnels and caves, which were used during many wars to shelter the city folks.
If you do travel from Maastricht to Luxembourg City, you can stop in Clervaux and visit the Battle of the Bulge Museum, located in the Chateau. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to visit the museum when we were there, so I can't vouch for it - we were next door at the <i>Family of Man</i> photography exhibit and ran out of time.
For some other options...
Trier, in Germany, is a short distance from Luxembourg City, and is definately worth a visit, IMHO - a city over 2000 years old with several wonderful Roman ruins.
Vianden, in Luxembourg, is a sleepy little town with a great castle on the hill, steeped in history.
Robyn
>-
My husband has been talking about going back to Luxembourg City since the day that we left. He found it to be a most fascinating city, as did I. The geography of the city, with it's different levels, is the main attraction. There is a lovely park in the valley below the city, where you can mingle with nature walking along the many paths (walk down and take the elevator back up). My husband really wants to go back to Luxembourg City to spend more time exploring the Bock Casemates - a series of tunnels and caves, which were used during many wars to shelter the city folks.
If you do travel from Maastricht to Luxembourg City, you can stop in Clervaux and visit the Battle of the Bulge Museum, located in the Chateau. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to visit the museum when we were there, so I can't vouch for it - we were next door at the <i>Family of Man</i> photography exhibit and ran out of time.
For some other options...
Trier, in Germany, is a short distance from Luxembourg City, and is definately worth a visit, IMHO - a city over 2000 years old with several wonderful Roman ruins.
Vianden, in Luxembourg, is a sleepy little town with a great castle on the hill, steeped in history.
Robyn
>-
Dec 4th, 2007, 11:24 PM
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Not far from Maastricht is the Military War Cementary (americans) of Margraten. Check this link:
http://www.margraten.nl/margraten?wa...p;taal=english
The city of maastricht itself is interesting, it is situated along the river, so you can make boattrips.
In Valkenburg (also close) you can visit a cave, this is a nice smaller tpown then Maastricht.http://www.valkenburg.nl/toerisme/in...&submenu=0
It is a hilly part of NL.\Public transport is very good.
http://www.margraten.nl/margraten?wa...p;taal=english
The city of maastricht itself is interesting, it is situated along the river, so you can make boattrips.
In Valkenburg (also close) you can visit a cave, this is a nice smaller tpown then Maastricht.http://www.valkenburg.nl/toerisme/in...&submenu=0
It is a hilly part of NL.\Public transport is very good.
Dec 5th, 2007, 12:07 AM
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Just across the border to Belgium, you can find the American war cemetery of Henri-Chapelle (http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/hc.php), too.
Close to Aachen in the Eifel hillside, you'll find the 'Ordensburg Vogelsang' (http://www.vogelsang-ip.de/), a place the future NS-elite was supposed to evolve from. It's one of the few actual remains of NS-propagandist architecture. In case you happen to go there, note that there are some remarkable WWII sites nearby, e.g. the Huertgen-forest, where one of the cruellest battles in WWII was fought in winter '44-'45 (though it's 'just' a very peacful forest nowadays, which makes quite a contrast). On your way there, you may spot remains of the 'Westwall' defence system, too (mainly anti-tank obstacles, http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westwall). Close to Lüttich, there's the Belgian fortress Eben-Emael from WWII, which occasionally opens to the public.
Please excuse that I copied most of this from another post of mine, but it just overlaped too much...
Aachen is scenic and neat, cathedral and townhall are in the centre, a few cobblestone roads around, but there's hardly the need to cross the ringroad. The village of Monschau (Eifel) is a popular destination, too. Low-season timetables for boatrides on the neaby 'Rursee'-reservoir: http://www.rurseeschifffahrt.de/inde...fp_nebensaison (alas German only).
Though I agree that public transport is very useful in that area, I would still recommend a car for most of what I suggested.
Close to Aachen in the Eifel hillside, you'll find the 'Ordensburg Vogelsang' (http://www.vogelsang-ip.de/), a place the future NS-elite was supposed to evolve from. It's one of the few actual remains of NS-propagandist architecture. In case you happen to go there, note that there are some remarkable WWII sites nearby, e.g. the Huertgen-forest, where one of the cruellest battles in WWII was fought in winter '44-'45 (though it's 'just' a very peacful forest nowadays, which makes quite a contrast). On your way there, you may spot remains of the 'Westwall' defence system, too (mainly anti-tank obstacles, http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westwall). Close to Lüttich, there's the Belgian fortress Eben-Emael from WWII, which occasionally opens to the public.
Please excuse that I copied most of this from another post of mine, but it just overlaped too much...
Aachen is scenic and neat, cathedral and townhall are in the centre, a few cobblestone roads around, but there's hardly the need to cross the ringroad. The village of Monschau (Eifel) is a popular destination, too. Low-season timetables for boatrides on the neaby 'Rursee'-reservoir: http://www.rurseeschifffahrt.de/inde...fp_nebensaison (alas German only).
Though I agree that public transport is very useful in that area, I would still recommend a car for most of what I suggested.
Dec 5th, 2007, 12:43 AM
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South Limburg is wonderful. Land of the "zachte G" (soft G unlike the gutteral G in the rest of Nederland). Lots of walks in the hills - yes hills around Maastricht. It is also the centre of the brewing industry with, amongst others, De Ridder brewery in Maastricht, Gulpener in Gulpen, Alfa in Schinnen and in Northern Limburg Hertog Jan.
In addition to the things already mentioned consider:
Valkensberg is a bit touristy but has some interesting caves. Maastricht also has caves in the St Petersburg.
Vaals has the three lands point and a good maze.
Food is good in Maastricht. If you like Thai then I recommend Sukothai, not cheap but incredible food.
Just over the border in Belgium you could visit Eben-Email, a fort in the St.Petersburg. http://tinyurl.com/2vxjyx
The boat trips from Maastricht are good. If you want to sail you will need to go towards Roermond, where there are places to hire boats and sail.
I would do Luxembourg as an overnight trip.
A car is very useful for the whole South Limburg area and to go into Belgium and Germany. However driving to Maastricht from Amsterdam for instance is awful as the road is contantly being worked on and improved, resulting in lots of jams. I would suggest getting the train to Maastricht and then hiring a car for a few days there.
For more info look at the VVV site - http://tinyurl.com/35ttns.
In addition to the things already mentioned consider:
Valkensberg is a bit touristy but has some interesting caves. Maastricht also has caves in the St Petersburg.
Vaals has the three lands point and a good maze.
Food is good in Maastricht. If you like Thai then I recommend Sukothai, not cheap but incredible food.
Just over the border in Belgium you could visit Eben-Email, a fort in the St.Petersburg. http://tinyurl.com/2vxjyx
The boat trips from Maastricht are good. If you want to sail you will need to go towards Roermond, where there are places to hire boats and sail.
I would do Luxembourg as an overnight trip.
A car is very useful for the whole South Limburg area and to go into Belgium and Germany. However driving to Maastricht from Amsterdam for instance is awful as the road is contantly being worked on and improved, resulting in lots of jams. I would suggest getting the train to Maastricht and then hiring a car for a few days there.
For more info look at the VVV site - http://tinyurl.com/35ttns.
Dec 5th, 2007, 12:46 AM
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Oh and if you fancy something a bit different look at the Landschaftpark in Duisburg, Germany - http://tinyurl.com/2ntpsa.
Dec 8th, 2007, 07:20 AM
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Aachen is a pleasant city to visit. The Cathedral and other sites associated with Charlemagne are very interesting
You will also be close to Koln which is definitely worth a visit. In addition to the Cathedral there are some amazing Romanesque churches and an impressive historic area. I have only visited in winter when the Rhine riverside area wasn't too inviting but I think it should be very pleasant in summer. There are boat tours
You will be closer to the Mosel and Lahn valleys than to Heidelberg and I would recommend exploring those areas unless you have a special reason for choosing Heidelberg
You will also be close to Koln which is definitely worth a visit. In addition to the Cathedral there are some amazing Romanesque churches and an impressive historic area. I have only visited in winter when the Rhine riverside area wasn't too inviting but I think it should be very pleasant in summer. There are boat tours
You will be closer to the Mosel and Lahn valleys than to Heidelberg and I would recommend exploring those areas unless you have a special reason for choosing Heidelberg
Dec 8th, 2007, 09:14 AM
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Besides the cathedral, Aachen has a very nice old town square; the city hall is definitely worth visiting, as are the bakeries--try the gingerbread, a local specialty. There is also a grandiose spa part of which dates, if I remember correctly, from Roman times.
Dec 9th, 2007, 04:02 AM
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Here some food recommendations:
Aachen:
La Becasse. Expect gourmet food (one Michelin star) in a rather relaxed atmosphere. A bargain is the daily special menu.
http://www.labecasse.de/
Postwagen (directly at the City Hall). Historic ambiance and traditional German food in good quality.
http://www.ratskeller-aachen.de
Maastricht:
6km from Maastricht across the border you find the small suburb Lanaken, Belgium. La Butte aux Bois is a very beautiful hotel with an excellent restaurant. Order a tasting menu with wine pairings (and make sure that you do not have to drive back).
http://www.labutteauxbois.be/
Aachen:
La Becasse. Expect gourmet food (one Michelin star) in a rather relaxed atmosphere. A bargain is the daily special menu.
http://www.labecasse.de/
Postwagen (directly at the City Hall). Historic ambiance and traditional German food in good quality.
http://www.ratskeller-aachen.de
Maastricht:
6km from Maastricht across the border you find the small suburb Lanaken, Belgium. La Butte aux Bois is a very beautiful hotel with an excellent restaurant. Order a tasting menu with wine pairings (and make sure that you do not have to drive back).
http://www.labutteauxbois.be/
Dec 9th, 2007, 01:53 PM
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>there is no direct train between Aachen and Maastricht.
No, but there is a direct bus (by Hermes if I recall properly) running twice an hour, and quite direct - no detours and loops through small towns that the local buses often do.
No, but there is a direct bus (by Hermes if I recall properly) running twice an hour, and quite direct - no detours and loops through small towns that the local buses often do.
Dec 9th, 2007, 11:24 PM
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The bus is run by Veolia nowadays, but still called 'Interliner': Two direct busses/hour Maastricht-Aachen, journey takes roughly 60mins.
In case you consider public transport around that region, check the 'euregio'-ticket, valid on all local transport (except highspeed-trains) in and around Maastricht, Liege, Aachen (e.g. Hasselt, Monschau, ...). Best value on weekends (14,- Euro for 2 persons), on weekdays it's valid for a single person only. Link to more information: http://www.avv.de/web/hauptdrei/eure...&sprache=2
Leaflet with a map: http://www.avv.de/web/download/ticke...egioticket.pdf
In case you consider public transport around that region, check the 'euregio'-ticket, valid on all local transport (except highspeed-trains) in and around Maastricht, Liege, Aachen (e.g. Hasselt, Monschau, ...). Best value on weekends (14,- Euro for 2 persons), on weekdays it's valid for a single person only. Link to more information: http://www.avv.de/web/hauptdrei/eure...&sprache=2
Leaflet with a map: http://www.avv.de/web/download/ticke...egioticket.pdf
Dec 16th, 2007, 03:39 AM
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Hetismij,
From looking at your user name and the info you gave me about Limburg, I am assuming... u bent Nederlander/Nederlandse. Mag ik u iets vragen? Kunt u me zeggen hoe kom ik van maastricht naar heidelberg duitsland met de trein? dank u!
From looking at your user name and the info you gave me about Limburg, I am assuming... u bent Nederlander/Nederlandse. Mag ik u iets vragen? Kunt u me zeggen hoe kom ik van maastricht naar heidelberg duitsland met de trein? dank u!
