St Janskerk

Maastricht


This attractive 17th-century Gothic church has a soaring if relatively unadorned interior and a 43m limestone tower whose deep red hue was originally achieved with coats of ox blood (now just paint). Climbing the tower reveals wide views, well explained by explanatory panels that make for a great introduction to Maastricht, but the narrow spiral stairs (around 260 of them with few passing points) can feel rather claustrophobic.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Maastricht attractions

1. Museum Aan Het Vrijthof

0.05 MILES

Exhibitions in this small museum change every few months but even if the current subject doesn't interest you it's worth popping your head inside.

2. Vrijthof

0.07 MILES

Home to a range of city festivities and occasional funfairs, the Vrijthof is an expansive square on which a row of terrace cafes face off against two…

3. St Servaasbasiliek

0.07 MILES

Built above and around the shrine of St Servaas (Servatius), the first bishop of Maastricht, the basilica presents an architectural pastiche whose…

4. Markt

0.26 MILES

The Markt, Maastricht's commercial heart, still hosts markets several times a week in the shadow of the 1664 city hall, a distinctively spired, cubic…

5. Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek

0.26 MILES

Dominating an intimate cafe-filled square, this millennium-old basilica-church is a fabulous example of Mosan architecture, made 'extra authentic' through…

6. D'Artagnan Statue

0.32 MILES

Of countless battles and sieges that have afflicted Maastricht, the best known was in 1673 when Louis XIV's French army took the city guided by master…

7. Helpoort

0.37 MILES

This rough-cut-stone tower-gateway dating from 1229 dominates the most impressive of several fragmentary sections of medieval city wall. You can look…

8. Centre Ceramique

0.63 MILES

Primarily a state-of-the-art library, this modern airy cube also has changing exhibitions in the spacious foyer area.