Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk / Church of Our Lady, Maastricht

You do not want to miss a church building that dates in part from the 11th century. You can enter the church except when they have a service. Have a coffee or a beer in one of the cafe's lining the 'plein' (square). On Sunday afternoon you can visit the Roman Ruins in the exhibit under the Derlon Hotel on this plein.

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Onze Lieve Voruwe basiliek is built at the place where St Servatius founded a chapel in 380 AD. The oldest imposing west part of the church with two small towers is built around 900 AD. This part with its tiny windows looks like a fortress. It´s not easy to make a picture of this part because of the trees at the square and the surrounding buildings.

It´s possble to visit the church inside fro free, if there are no services. You can walk in the gothic corridors and have a look at the courtyard. For entering the courtyard and the treasury room you have to pay a small entrance fee.

At this westside of the church you can find the intimate green square named 'Onze Lieve Vrouwe plein' with lots of terraces of the surrounding cafes.

The church of Our Lady is one of the oldest churches in Maastricht. It is build on the remains of an ancient Roman temple. The church was the church of the bisshops of Maastricht, Tongeren and Luik in the 5th to the 8th century. The church is dedicated to Our Lady, as was common in those days for the first church in a city.
In 1795 the church was taken by the French, who occupied the region. They used it as a stable, storage for grain, hospital and for a blacksmith. It stayed a militairy blacksmith until 1837, when the dutch had taken over for a long time.
The statue of Mary , Star of the Sea, (dating back to 1410) came from the St Nicolaschurch to this church in that year. In 1903 it was placed in the Merode-chapel, where it still stands today. On 20 februari 1933 the church was made a basilica minor by pope Pius XI.
Today it is a very common thing to burn a candle in the Merode chapel in honor of Mary, Star of the Sea, on a sunday or any other day in the week.

You can visit the church too. And there is a treasure-house, with a large number of exhibits. Church art , the so-called “Levite Tapestry” of St. Lambertus. He was the last Bishop of Maastricht and only one, born here. Relics, procession banners, church silver and more.

Opening hours:
The church is opened to the public each day, not during services.
The treasury: From Easter through Autumn vacation daily from 11.00 a.m.- 5.00 p.m. on Sunday 1.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.
For the treasury you have to pay admission:
Adults € 1.60; Children up to 12 years € 0.45 (2005 prices)

Impressively dominating the city the gigantic Romanesque cathedral of Our Lady is visible from lots of angles, including the newly opened pedestrian bridge across the river. Its stern and robust exterior commands respect and also conveys a aura of the safety the former inhabitants of the city must undoubtedly have found within its massive walls.

One of the three main churches of Maastricht is Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk. It's tower is quite impressive and the church from the inside is very dark and beautiful. There also it a treasure chamber and a backyard you can have a look at. We had a nice time in the backyard at our VT meeting. Inside the church there was an unfriendly man who was obviously employed to walk around looking angry at people taking pictures etc.

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The interior of the Church of Our Lady has got three naves. The choir is covered golded figures. The capitals are covered with frescos.
Very interesting is also the cloister built in the half of the 14th century: nowdays there you can visit the Schatkamer (Treasure Room).

Star of the sea is another name for Mary. This old statue sits in its own chapel beside the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Basilica.
Many people in Maastricht visit it to burn a candle and pray.
So many in fact that sometimes people have to queue.

Basilica of Our Lady.
The building of this church was started in the 10th century. The Treasure boasts many relics.

Opening hours:
From Easter through Autumn half term daily from 11.00 a.m.- 5.00 p.m.; on Sunday 1.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.;
the church is opened to the public each day, but not during servces.
Price of admission:
Adults € 1.60; Children up to 12 years € 0.45

The oldest parts of the church, the west side, were built around the year 900. It took about 3 centuries before the church was completed to what it now looks like. The church is Roman Catholic so there are a lot of beautiful pieces of art to be seen inside the church.

A basilica built in around 10th centuary, a worthwhile place to visit for quiet reflection.
It is quite large inside & there is a trophy room in a wing off the main part as well as a courtyard.

You are not supposed to take pics inside, we were rushing about looking for who has the next coin to turn the lights on.

The church is Roman catholic