The Meuse between Maasmechelen and Maastricht

You cycle from Maasmechelen to Maastricht. Maastricht is located at the foot of Sint-Pietersberg, with the city center at about 50 meters above NAP. In the protected cityscape of the city you will find no less than 1677 national monuments. Traces of Maastricht as a Roman fortress, religious centre, garrison town and early industrial city can still be found in the streets. You can endlessly marvel at historic city gates, bridges, churches, chapels and castles. In addition, it is of course the city par excellence for Burgundian enjoyment and endless shopping. You drive through the heart of the city and cycle over the Servaas Bridge to the eastern bank of the Maas.

Borgharen is located between the Juliana Canal and the river Maas where it forms the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. The village has been in the news a few times due to the flooding of the Maas. After the last flood, in 1995, dikes were built around the village.

The medieval castle Borgharen originated from a donjon: a square, fortified tower. That tower was probably built in the 9th century, the time of the Viking raids. Those who visit the castle now will find a 17th-century complex in baroque style with two square towers, surrounded by a moat. The beautiful interior is in the style of Louis XIV. Near the castle are a castle farm from the late 17th century, a neo-Gothic gatehouse and gardens in the English landscape style.

You cross the Juliana Canal twice and continue cycling past Geulle Castle. This moated, whitewashed house with a courtyard is the outer bailey of the 17th-century castle that stood here until 1847. A gatehouse and an arched bridge take you across the moat to the castle. There is still a loophole in the west facade: the rest of those holes disappeared when windows were installed in 1865.