Enjoy the Jeker valley and downtown Maastricht
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.59 mi
- Elevation gain
- 440 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 466 ft
- Max elevation
- 318 ft
- TrailRank
-
34
4.8
- Min elevation
- 135 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Coordinates
- 126
- Uploaded
- March 14, 2015
- Recorded
- March 2015
near Maastricht, Limburg (Nederland)
Viewed 3531 times, downloaded 87 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Click on the waypoints for more info on highlights along the route.
Waypoints
Information point
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Sint Pieter Fortress
Sint Pieter Fortress The hill in front of you is called Sint Pieter. After the French used this hill in 1673 to bombard Maastricht, in 1702 the present fort was built to defend against attacks from the south of Maastricht. Early 19th century, the fort was modernized, but since 1867 it is no longer used as a fortress, because the Maastricht fortress was lifted. Today the fort is managed by Natuurmonumenten and excursions inside the fort are organized. If you don't have much time you can still explore the massive brick stone walls as part of the Jeker valley hike.
Information point
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Tourist Information
Tourist Information
Information point
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Basilica of Our Lady
Basilica of Our Lady The Basilica of Our Lady, also called Star of the Sea or Slevrouwe, is a Romanesque church. The church dates largely from the 11th and 12th centuries. From 1886 to 1916 significant restorations were carried out under the guidance of famous Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers (who also designed the Central Railway station and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam). During the restoration a large number of changes and additions of the church after the year 1200 were restored to its original form. The chapel located next to the Basilica contains a 15th century miraculous image of the Star of the Sea and is popular by locals. The statue is carried in procession around the city at or just before the day of Saint Servatius (May 13). Through the chapel you can get into the basilica.
Information point
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Bishopsmill
Bishopsmill This mill dates back to the seventh century. The current name has been given to the mill in the 11th century when the owner of the mill, Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, as part of his possessions, including the mill, leased his property to the bishop of Liege. He did this to finance his first crusade. In the lease contract the provision was included that if the Duke would not return from the Crusade, the pledged assets would be delivered to the bishop. When the Duke, who was unmarried and childless, died in 1099 in Jerusalem because of his injuries, the mill was therefore offered to the Bishop of Liège. From this time the mill was called Bisschopsmolen or (in English) Bishopsmill. In 2004 the mill was restored to secure services. Every day spelled grain is milled, which is obtained from the local farmers. So drop by to have a look and a taste!
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Sint Pieter Quarry
Sint Pieter Quarry and Pieter trail On the left you can see the quarries and factories of the ENCI, where marl is extracted to make cement. In 2018 production will be stopped after years of (environmental) protests and procedures. The huge quarry will be returned largely into nature. The long distance walking trail Pieterpad begins in Pieterburen in North Groningen and ends after 492 km at the hill of Sint Pieter. The Grande Randonnée 5 (GR5) from Hook of Holland to Nice also connects with Sint Pieter hill. A big signpost tells you how to get to Nice.
Information point
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Château Neercanne
Château Neercanne Château Neercanne is the only terraced castle in the Netherlands. It was built by the military governor of Maastricht in 1698 on the remains of an older fortress. After Belgium's independence the owner, Baron Thier, managed to keep the castle inside the kingdom. The marl stone walls around the southern orchards of the castle became the border between Belgium and the Netherlands. Of these walls still some parts are intact. The castle and the courtyard are now in possession of the Limburg Landscape Foundation. The courtyard, the forests and some parts of the gardens are free to visit.
Information point
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Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre
Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre The Baroque Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, which is built entirely of limestone, was built in 1647. Herman Jeker Mans, a carpenter's son from Kanne and visitor of the Holy Land (Israel) promised to build a chapel at safe return, identical to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The chapel was badly damaged in World War II, but restored to its original state in 1960.
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Lombok Watermill
Lombok Watermill Back in the days at this location three mills were standing close to each other, only one of which remains. This mill Lombok is worth a look. To see the mill from the main track we walk towards the houses and check out the small foot bridge over the river Jeker. The construction of the mill causes a backwater effect, during high water discharges of the river. Therefore, the water authority has made a new branch at the location of the mill. This new branch, or by-pass, makes it also possible for fishes to pass by the mill. The Lombok mills were situated right opposite of the Mill of Dollaert, which formerly consisted of two mills, each with its own water wheel. A part of the wall of the most downstream mill is still visible. Also try to check out the courtyard across the bridge over the Jeker.
Information point
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Park Jeker Valley
Park Jeker valley Park Jeker valley is a young nature reserve along the river Jeker. In 2 million years river Jeker has shaped this valley, between Sint Piet hill and the Canner hill. The park adjoins the 19th century city park, linking the city with the countryside. The park, with an orchard, consists of flowery meadows. And on the shores and islands of the Jeker is room for herbaceous flowers. The water authority has shifted and rearranged the river to prevent flooding in the future.
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Old houses Hoogbrugstraat
Old houses Hoogbrugstraat In the monumental Hoogbrugstraat (59 monuments!) there are many plaques and list facades of the 17th and 18th centuries. The bricks in the walls betray the profession or the destination of the original owner of the property.
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Helpoort
Helpoort The Helpoort or in English Hellgate is the oldest surviving city gate in the Netherlands. As a result of city authority, Maastricht also got the right to protect them with a city wall. In 1229 the first walls were erected, Hellgate was a part of these walls. The first walled soon proved too small and just west of the Hellgate the construction of a second wall was started. In the late 14th century this second wall was completed. Because the course of the river Jeker was moving over time to the south, the port was not directly protected by a moat. In order to fix this problem a new wall were constructed, which had no gates. The Hellgate lost its traffic function and it is probably due to this fact that the gate has been preserved until today.
Information point
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Bookshop in a church
Bookshop in a church
Waypoint
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Maastricht Railway station
Maastricht Railway station
Comments (7)
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Thanks, walked it today. Easy to follow and great views.
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Erg leuke wandeling door een mooie omgeving. Start- en eindpunt is goed te vinden, met gratis parkeren voor de auto.
Thanks for your feedback debstar73 and dijkstrafrank!
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One of the most beautiful trails I've seen in the Netherlands.
I follow the entire route and I suggest one change: In Pruisstrat, go to the EetCafé Jeker en Maos and turn left, walking more 5 min you will arrive in the river with a beautiful view. We stopped there for a little picnic and after we returned to the trail.
Thanks rhluciano for your comment and add on to the trail, we will definitely check it out next time we are around :) Thanks!
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Heel mooie route! Een fort, kastelen, weidse uitzichten, watermolens, kleine paadjes tussen de velden,.. je ziet het allemaal. Ik heb deze route gelopen en ik kom zeker terug! We verbleven in Hotel pastis, dat is net tussen het centrum van Maastricht en het fort, wat heel aangenaam was. Bedankt om te delen!
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Mooie afwisselende route. Wij zijn de wandeling gestart vanaf het vrijthof en het is leuk om te zien dat je binnen de kortste keren buiten de stad bent.