Sfeervol Meerssen
Those looking for peace and tranquillity will find it in Meerssen. Meerssen has the allure of a town with its numerous monuments, beautiful Proosdij park, and varied range of shops, speciality shops, and restaurants and cafés. The villages of Bunde, Geulle, Rothem, and Ulestraten that surround Meerssen also have many beautiful walking and cycling routes in addition to their wealth of historic and cultural sites. If you want to take a breather, you can grab a bite to eat or get something to drink at one of the many charming cafés and restaurants along the route. Charismatic Meerssen: an oasis of tranquillity between the tourist hotspots of Maastricht and Valkenburg aan de Geul. Visit www.ontdekmeerssen.nl.
Geulle aan de Maas
The quaint village Geulle aan de Maas drapes down from the Moorveld plateau to the broad stream of the Meuse. During sailing season (usually from May to September) you can cross from Geulle aan de Maas to the Belgian village Uikhoven with a bicycle/foot ferry. In Uikhoven, you connect to the Belgian junction network for cycling routes. Visit www.geulle.com for more information.
Sites to see in Geulle
Geulle Castle (Geulderlei 1, Geulle)
This beautiful castle was built in 1620. The present castle was the outer bailey of the previous seventeenth century castle that was demolished in 1847. The L-shaped white-washed house is surrounded by a moat which protects the building and a rectangular courtyard. The castle can be accessed on the west side through a gatehouse that can be reached by crossing the arched bridge over the moat. The western wall contains a loophole which is the only remaining one in the castle following the placing of windows in 1865. Across the road opposite the access bridge you can see a few eighteenth century gate piers. The interior of the castle dates back to 1915 following a refurbishment by Dutch architect and Maastricht local Willem Sprenger and has three large fireplaces built in segments.
Sint Martinuskerk (Church of St. Martin, Kerkplein 2a, Geulle)
The Church of St. Martin in Geulle dates back to the fourteenth century. The church building was renovated in 1626 by local nobles Wolter and Conrad Ulrich van Hoensbroeck Geul. The building served as a simultaneum (shared church) for both Catholics and Protestants between 1680 and 1820. The church was rebuilt in 1920 and a new nave was constructed in the centre of the old church. The western steeple dating back to the fourteenth century and the three-sided enclosed chancel were preserved. In 1977, the church was renovated.
Molen van Hulsen/Onderste Molen watermill (Snijdersberg 31, Geulle)
The watermills in Geulle were called the Bovenste (upper) and Onderste (lower) Molens (mills). The Bovenste Molen is located on the plateau between the hamlets Moorveld and Snijderveld in the forest of Geulle (section A 675) and the Onderste Molen in Hulsen at the foot of the plateau next to the railway. Both mills were situated on the cadastral map of Hulsen. Before French occupation, the Bovenste Molen was subject to mill soke (the obligatory use of a landlord's mill by tenants under Western European feudal systems) as part of the seigneurial rights of Geulle.
Discover RivierPark Maasvallei in Geulle
The walking route through Geulle aan de Maas is shown on the Borgharen (Maastricht) discovery map. Get the discovery map at any of the South Limburg tourist information offices (VVV Zuid-Limburg) and in the online shop. You can also download the ‘The tour of Meerssen’ cycling route for free. This route takes you on a journey of discovery through charismatic Meerssen and takes you along the Meuse in Geulle.
Bicycle ferry
You can cross the Meuse in Geulle with the ‘Jung 2’ bicycle ferry. You can find out more information about the bicycle ferry here.
Junction system for cycling routes
Discover RivierPark Maasvallei on the bicycle. The practical junction network for cycling routes allows you to plan your route with the relevant numbers before your trip. When you embark on your cycling trip, all you need to do is follow the numbers that you have selected. The distances between the junctions are also clearly marked allowing you to plan routes between the junctions. The Dutch cycling routes junctions connect directly with those in Belgium. The maps for the network are available at all South Limburg tourist information offices (VVV Zuid-Limburg). You can also order the map of the cycling routes junctions at our online shop.
