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Top five attractions Aachen (DE)

1. Aachener Rathaus

The historic rooms in this impressive building contain an interactive exhibition. You might even see the mayor of Aachen at his desk.

The historic façade is already an indication of the building’s glorious history: 50 rulers, 31 of whom were crowned in Aachen, surround the central figures of Charlemagne, the Holy Mary and Pope Leo III. In the elaborately decorated rooms, too, the story of the city hall, which was built on the historic site of the great palace hall of Emperor Charlemagne, is brought to life. In the coronation hall, where formerly the rulers took a meal after being crowned, copies of the imperial regalia remind us of this glorious era today.

Visit the town hall
Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Please note that rooms may be closed due to special events!
Entrance € 6,- and € 3,- reduced price

More info on rathaus-aachen.de/en/town-hall

2. Aachen Cathedral

Located in the heart of the old city, Aachen Cathedral is one of the main attractions of Aachen. Its architecture and features still highlight the significance and imposing nature of the building, which was completed at the end of the 8th century at the request of Emperor Charlemagne. Its magnificent interior is in full view as soon as you enter. Here, history really does come alive.

The cathedral is closed to tourists during services. This also applies to special services and concerts – short-term closure is possible!

3. Katschhof

On the Katschhof square, which used to connect the Marienkirche church built by Charlemagne and his great palace hall, you’ll find the Centre Charlemagne, Aachen’s new city museum. Here, you can immerse yourself in the history of Aachen. From the stairs of the city hall, you also have a unique view of Aachen Cathedral. The atmosphere in the square is unbelievably peaceful – a real retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

4. Elisenbrunnen

Located in the heart of the city, the Elisenbrunnen fountain is the symbol of Aachen as a spa and bathing city. Here, the hot springs, which were valued not only by Charlemagne, but also the Romans, can be seen bubbling up from below. The classicistic building with its two fountains is a popular meeting place for young and old, Aacheners and non-Aacheners!

5. Carolus Thermen

In Aachen, water and wellness have a long tradition. While in former times, the Romans relaxed in the therapeutic waters of the Aachen mineral springs, today, the Carolus Thermen thermal pools offer the perfect escape from everyday life.

In the thermal spa, you’ll find a range of different indoor and outdoor pools, all of which are filled with beneficial thermal water. In the summer, the Carolus beach, with its sand and beach chairs, offers a real holiday atmosphere! If you still want a real workout in the middle of your relaxing day, you can join a free aqua gymnastics session.

More info on www.carolus-thermen.de/en/thermalbath

You can find more information about the city on www.aachen-tourismus.de/en

Top five attractions Liege (BE)

1. La Cité Miroir

Right in the centre of Liège, in January 2014, the former Thermal Baths of La Sauvenière became La Cité Miroir, a cultural and citizen space. Theatre, music, conferences, debates, workshops, permanent and temporary exhibitions, the diversity and wealth of activities make this a venue for unique expression dedicated to citizenship, memory and cultural dialogue.

The spirit of the former Thermal Baths was retained during the renovation, which imbues a unique atmosphere on this 13,000 m² building which is symbolic of Liège. Three non-profit associations share the space at La Cité Miroir: Les Territoires de la Mémoire, the Centre d’Action Laïque de la Province de Liège and MNEMA, which manages the venue.

Many external operators also use the venue for their events, all related to the values that are defended by La Cité Miroir. In a rapidly evolving city, La Cité Miroir is helping to shape the new identity of Liège by increasing ties with other cultural and association operators, protecting a listed heritage building, regenerating the Neujean district and meeting the expectations of an enlightened and demanding public.

More info about the history of La Cité Miroir on www.citemiroir.be/en/la-cite-miroir/history

2. Le Palais des Princes-Évêques

On the Place Saint-Lambert, in the city centre, the Prince-Bishops’ Palace is one of the iconic buildings of Liege One part currently houses the provincial government, while the court is located in the other half. The current Prince-Bishops’ Palace was preceded by two constructions. The first one was built during the episcopate of Notger and disappeared during 1185. The second construction suffered the same fate in 1505. Most of the splendour and originality of the actual palace is owed to Erard de la Marck. The first courtyard solely of is open to visitors.

3. Saint Paul Cathedral

The collegiate church of St. Paul, founded in the 10th century, in the 19th century became the new cathedral of Liège, replacing the cathedral of Saint-Lambert which was destroyed in the Liège revolution. Stained glass windows from the 16th century and contemporary period, a Baroque white marble Christ recumbent by Del Cour, exceptional 19th century furniture. The cathedral has one of the finest Gothic cloisters in the country.

Opening hours

Cathedral: open every day from 8 am to 5 pm.
The Treasure: open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 2 to 5 pm.

4. Liège-Guillemins Train Station

The station, designed by Santiago Calatrava, reaches a height of 40 metres and, with its two awnings, a width of 150 m. Opened in 2009, it took over ten years to build due to the need to keep it operational

during the construction work. With its enormous glass roof that lets the light in, it is often called a ‘cathedral of the modern age’. Its white colour and forms denote the style of Santiago Calatrava, the great Spanish architect of worldwide fame. Although modern, the station bears in the ancient name of Guillemins, referring back to a religious order, the ‘Guillemites’. The order was founded St William and established itself in the Middle Ages.

5. Montagne de Bueren

With its 374 steps and an incline that reaches 30%, the mountain of Bueren is reputed to be one of the world’s ten most extraordinary staircases. Permanently open to the public, this site is among the unmissable locations in the city of Liège. A work of art that’s characteristic of 19th-century breakthroughs, the mountain of Bueren enabled a direct link between the barracks at the citadel and the city centre.

The name of this flight of stairs recalls the aborted coup by the 600 Franchimontois. Led by Vincent de Bueren and Gossuin de Streel, they attempted to capture Charles the Bold and Louis XI during the night of 29 October 1468.

You can find more information about the city on www.visitezliege.be/en

Top five attractions Maastricht (NL)

1. Government on the Meuse

The Government of the Maas lies alongside the river Maas in Maastricht. For a small portion even on an island in the river. It was built between 1983 and 1985. The Government on the Meuse employs approximately 1,000 people. There is an office area for staff and administration area for the provincial government. Special areas in the administration section are the State Hall and Festival Hall.

In 1992 the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance of the countries of the European Community in the Council Chamber, signed the ‘Maastricht Treaty’. This treaty made the European Community into the European Union. And the treaty laid the foundation for the introduction of the euro. The Maastricht Treaty has received the European Heritage Label in 2018. You can visit The Government to see one of the two Dutch official copies of the treaty.

2. Vrijthof Square

The heart of the city is home to the beautiful Vrijthof square. This special square has become famous as the backdrop to the summer concerts of André Rieu, Preuvenemint, and the Magical Maastricht event.

For most of the year, you can walk around Vrijthof square at your leisure and take in the breathtaking panoramas. Around Vrijthof square are numerous historic buildings that hark back to the time when Maastricht was a religious centre and a military fortress, such as the Basiliek van Sint Servaas (Basilica of St. Servatius), Sint Janskerk (St John’s Church), Spaans Gouvernement Museum, the Hoofdwacht (Main Guardhouse), and the Generaalshuis (General’s House).

You will also find countless fantastic terraces and beautiful hotels that are frequented by visitors and residents of Maastricht all year round. This romantic and historic square is the largest in Maastricht.

3. City Park

Come explore the rich history in and around the city park. Climb the centuries-old city walls to take in the beauty of Maastricht for a moment. If you enter the city park from Prins Bisschopssingel, you will soon come across the bear pit. Real bears used to live there; but this couldn’t go on forever, of course. This is why the bear pit has been given an artistic purpose. Walk further on, and you will encounter the statue of D’Artagnan. This special monument in the city park commemorates the musketeer who was killed at Tongeren Gate on 25 June 1673.

Find a space on the lawn next to the cannons and enjoy some beautiful sunny weather, or walk along the historic city walls and relish the beautiful view over the city park. There are many hidden gems around the city wall and the city park. Once you have walked under the imposing Helpoort (Hell’s Gate), you will end up in the romantic Jeker quarter (Jekerkwartier).

4. Dominicanen Bookshop

Two hundred years ago, the church lost its sacred function and has since served for many years as a  reptile house, bicycle shed, and ‘carnival temple’. Dominicanen bookshop has a wide range of public books, music, and books for professionals. Yet as this place even attracts those who are not so much interested in books, it is a must-see location if you are in Maastricht.

In the Dominicanenkerk’s former choir, you can enjoy a delicious cappuccino or lunch provided by the famous Blanche Dael Coffeelovers (Maastricht’s ultimate roasting house). A walk through the Dominicanenkerk is an experience in itself: it’s no wonder it’s called the most beautiful bookshop in the world!

5. Fort Sint Pieter

The fort dates from around 1700 and is largely still intact, with parts recently restored. The fort is made up of several levels and is equipped with various large and small cannons and mortars. Your guide will show you beautiful and interesting spots in and around the fort, taking you back in time.

If you’re not afraid of the dark, you should visit the famous Caves of St. Pieter. In the course of centuries of marl quarrying, an underground labyrinth was created here with over 20,000 passageways.

The manual labourers who cut out the blocks as well as various artists have left their marks, including various interesting and sometimes very old writings on the wall.

More info on www.maastrichtunderground.nl/eng

You can find more information about the city on www.visitmaastricht.com

Top attractions Hasselt (BE)

1. Corda Campus

On 2 March 1954, the City of Hasselt and the technology company Philips signed an agreement to build a Philips factory south of the Hasselt-Genk railway line, in the Banneux neighbourhood. Fast forward a few years, and record players, tape and cassette recorders, and loudspeakers were assembled, and metal parts were produced at the newly built production halls and office buildings. The Philips Hasselt site was the first branch outside of Eindhoven to also design products in-house. In 1964 Philips Hasselt developed and produced the first ever ‘Philicorda’ organ (do we hear ‘Corda’ there?). Throughout the years the staff base soared and so did the number of new products. Unfortunately, Philips encountered some difficulties in the early noughties and in late 2002 the 1,450 remaining employees were informed the factory was closing down.

The Philips buildings then became part of the ‘Research Campus Hasselt’, whose name soon needed an upgrade as it no longer reflected the real scope of the campus. In 2013 the site was renamed ‘Corda Campus’, the economic epicentre of Limburg.

Green symbolises peace and tranquillity. Corda Campus borders the Bokrijk woods and the Kiewit lakes, and is just a stone’s throw from the world-renowned Hoge Kempen National Park. The Corda Campus outdoor area perfectly reflects these natural surroundings. The central courtyard is a green oasis, with fountains and relaxation corners, whereas the campus architecture seeks to strike a balance between work and leisure.

Corda Campus decided to convert an existing, but vacant warehouse into a car park. The Corda1 building has a slanting green roof which provides thermal insulation and acts as a rainwater buffer. The building’s HVAC system is linked to geothermal applications (geothermal heating and heat pumps). And last but not least, during the renovations of the older buildings, Corda Campus systematically takes account of sustainability criteria.

2. The Lively City

With its restaurants, shop facilities, city museums and kind people, a visit to the city centre of Hasselt is definitely worth.

• Z33 – House for Contemporary Art

Z33 creates projects, exhibitions, productions and publications by and with artists. Contemporary art, architecture, design and film are used to bring to the fore and critically examine a variety of social themes. Z33 aims to question the norm, encourage curiosity, and provide a new frame of reference, but also seeks to provide knowledge, skills and tools to its public so as to set things in motion. Z33 has a particular focus on talent development as well as on projects that stimulate new connections between artists, designers, researchers, scientists and (urban) residents.

You can find more information at www.z33.be

• Fashion Museum

The collection of the Modemuseum Hasselt (Fashion Museum Hasselt) counts just about 17,000 items ranging from clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories to undergarments. The collection policy is aimed at acquiring and conserving historical pieces of clothing as well as items from contemporary designers and keep them in the most optimal conditions.

You can find more information at www.modemuseumhasselt.be

• Jenever Museum

Hasselt is still the jenever city par excellence. You’ll see the proof of this in the Jenever Museum. You’ll learn everything you need to know about jenever here. Don’t forget to enjoy your free drink in our tasting room.

A fully operational19th century distillery, 2.150 glass bottles, 750 jugs and pitchers made of stone, more than 1.230 jenever glasses and 400 liqueur glasses, 200 ceramic objects, 540 posters, 380 placards and approximately 9.500 bottle labels.That sums up the Jenevermuseum’s collection.

You can find more info at www.jenevermuseum.be.

You can find more information about the city on www.visithasselt.be/en

3. In search of green

Come to yourself in the oriental fauna & flora setting from the Japanese Garden

The Japanese Garden in Hasselt is the largest of its kind in Europe, the perfect place to fully experience Japanese culture. Originally, a Japanese garden encouraged meditation and reflection, which is no different in Hasselt.

You can find more info on  www.visithasselt.be/nl/japanse-tuin

Go out and discover the rich history at about 15 min from the Corda Campus.

• Herkenrode Abbey

The Herkenrode Abbey is a monastery of Cistercian nuns since 1927. It was also the first women’s abbey and has gone through so much over the years. From decay periods to booming ones, this land has gone through it all. But after almost a century, the building still stands strong and is surrounded by beautiful natural reserves. They have an experience center and inspiration garden that are accessible to everyone. Plus, their symbol is a unicorn! Find out more by visiting the abbey, especially during the Unicorn Sage Family shows on Pentecost day.

You can find more info on www.abdijsiteherkenrode.be

• Bokrijk

In Bokrijk you can dive into the distant past. During your fascinating trip through the Open Air Museum you will discover more than hundred authentic buildings with old objects and craftsmen in the apparel of former times. In the information centre opposite Bokrijk castle you will find all the information you need, along with activity programmes, maps and rental bicycles. At this moment you can visit the interactive exhibition ‘The World of Bruegel’. The inspiring Bruegel Trail will allow you to immerse yourself in one of the paintings of the Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder and to discover, in a pleasantly surprising way, how relevant his work remains today. You can also explore the domain and enjoy the greenery and silence of nature by walking or cycling along the beautiful ponds and enjoy the fauna and flora.

You can find more info on  www.bokrijk.be/en