A small tree-shaded square in front of the Basilica of Our Lady, ringed with terraces and closed to traffic.
The Vrijthof gets the crowds and the events; this one, three minutes away, gets the shade and the locals. The west front of the basilica is a blank fortified wall from the eleventh century that reads more like a keep than a church, and the terraces face it from under plane trees. There is nothing to do here but sit down, which in a city where the good things are guided tours and ticketed museums is the correct evening plan.
Highlights
- Free, shaded and traffic-free
- The basilica's fortified west front
- Terraces all around
Insider tips
- →Late afternoon, when the sun clears the roofline and the terraces fill.
- →Three minutes from the Vrijthof and considerably better.
FAQ
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Where you'll find it
Maastricht, Netherlands
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