Arts and Culture
Limburg has as many as 20 different theatres, four world class opera houses (in the Euregion) and plenty museums. Many beautiful monuments can be admired in Limburg, among with a number of impressive churches and chapels.
More culture in Limburg can be discovered through museums or 'live'; Not only Carnival is celebrated elaborately yearly, also the Oud Limburgs Schuttersfeest (Old Limburg Arching Festival) attracts over 60,000 visitors every year. Yes, these feasts, which existed for centuries, are still being celebrated massively!
The arts and culture of Limburg is centred around the following:
Of course there are more cultural festivals, shows and beautiful buildings worth visiting. Look forward to large modern events such as The European Fine Art Fair (the famous TEFAF) and the popular music festival Pinkpop, which take place in Limburg every year.
Our suggestion: Chateau St. Gerlach
Château St. Gerlach is situated in the beautiful Geul valley of South Limburg, close to Maastricht. The history of this rural estate dates back to the twelfth century. The hermit Gerlachus had withdrawn to the Geul valley at that time to pray and also to go on a regular pilgrimage to the grave of Saint Servatius in Maastricht. When he died in 1165, his grave became a place of pilgrimage for the local people because they attributed miracles to him. After Gerlachus was declared holy, a lord from Valkenburg ordered for a monastery and monastery church to be built by the grave. A mausoleum was placed in the church for Gerlachus. In 1345 the monastery was converted into a convent and many noble families sent their unwedded daughters there.
As the years went by the castle and outbuildings deteriorated considerably. During the Second World War the castle was first occupied by the Germans and then, after the liberation, by the American army. A hole in the large mirror above the hearth, caused by a soldier's gunshot, is still left over from the time of the American occupation.
In the present day Chateau St. Gerlach serves as a hotel, restaurant and conference area. It consists of a rectangular main building, a coach house and farm. According to the hotel classification of the 'Five Star Alliance' it is one of the five five-star hotels in the Netherlands and is situated outside of the Randstad.