The best city hikes and walks in Grensmaas

Baroque church on the edge of the old town towards the Maas. The front is barely visible behind the trees.

Next to the magnificent Romanesque Basilica of St. Servatius is the younger church (from the 13th century) dedicated to St. John, which was originally built as a Catholic parish church, but now offers a spiritual home to the town's Protestant fellow citizens.

The statue here is of Saint Cupid, commemorating the Saint Cupid Chapel that stood here in the 17th century but was demolished in 1653. Cozy cafes invite you to linger and watch the hustle and bustle of Maastricht.

Clearly one of the most successful church repurposings happening just about everywhere. It's a substantial building with a substantial shop, and it's located right in the commercial and historic center of Maastricht, between the market square and the Vrijthof square. Of course, we shouldn't forget the design of the shop and the restoration of the building (see below). Moreover, the bookstore in the Gothic church is sometimes called the most beautiful in the world. The Guardian and CNN, among others, have done so. And that's also a recognition for the designers of Merkx+Girod, who explain their approach for those interested at http://merk-x.nl/retail/dominicanenkerk-maastricht/ Anyone who wants a sneak peek and can play around with 3D representations should definitely take a virtual look inside at https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=TBniLj8176G&sm=2&sr=-1.46,1.08,1.44&sp=49.63,28.58,4.39 If the link for the bookstore's 3D presentation doesn't work, you'll definitely find one on the website: https://www.boekhandeldominicanen.nl/ A brief history: The building was consecrated in 1294 as a monastery church for Dominican priests. After the French invasion, the monastery was dissolved in 1796, after which the church ceased to be used for religious purposes. For centuries, the church served primarily as a storage space and had various functions (including stables and a slaughterhouse). German soldiers plundered and burned down the monastery in 1577; the church was damaged and the library was lost, with restoration not taking place until the 17th century. In 2006, the church was restored and transformed into its present form.

Parts of the city wall are still preserved. The old mill, which is still in operation, is definitely worth seeing.

A beautiful early Baroque church from the 17th century, a Dutch national monument. Unfortunately, like many other churches in the country, it no longer serves its religious purpose. In recent years, the former Augustinian church and monastery building housed a food market, selling mainly fruit and vegetables. Currently closed, the market is likely awaiting a new tenant...

Maastricht's Gothic St. Matthew's Church (Sint-Matthiaskerk) is located on Boschstraat. Construction of this church began around 1350, but it is believed that a church already stood on this site before then. The St. Matthew's Church is definitely worth a look.

Nice break spot