Sights and landmarks in Tongeren

Sights and landmarks in Tongeren

1. See

   Basilica of Our Lady and belfry

   Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Basiliek

   One of the most beautiful medieval monuments in the world. Built in Gothic style in the 13th century, where excavations have produced some of the richest archaeological finds in Flanders. Archaeological excavations have proven the presence of an edifice here starting from the 4th century, while a Carolingian prayer house existed here in the 9th century. The building of the choir of the present basilica began in 1240. Nave, transepts and side chapels were added between the 13th and 15th century. The original Romanesque tower was replaced by the present, 64-m-tall Gothic tower from 1442 until 1541. The basilica's interior is home to the statue of Our Lady of Tongeren, executed in 1475. The treasury is housed in the former hall of the Chapter and comprises one of the richest collections of religious art in Belgium. The basilica has excellent acoustics and is often used for symphony concerts. The belfry tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   Apr-Sep: Mon 13:30-17:00, Tue-Sun 10:00-12:00 and 13:30-17:00·€2.50 for treasury

2. See

   Beghina

   Beguine Museum

   The museum is located in an authentic Beguine house that dates from 1660, with its surrounding gardens. Everything is set up like it was back in the day. In the cellar you can taste traditional Beguine beer (Dagelyckx) or lemonade. There's also a souvenir shop-

   Tue-Sat 10:00-12:00 13:30-16:30, Sun 13:00-17:00·€3.50

3. See

   Betho castle

   Kasteel van Betho

   The oldest remaining part of this castle is the 15th century southern tower. Much of the rest is from the 17th century. On the northern side you can see a bit of the moat that once surrounded the castle.

4. See

   Church of St. John the Baptist

   Sint-Jan-de-Doperkerk

   There has been a house of worship here since 1390, although the building served as a meeting place for the town council in the early 19th century. The oldest parts of the current church are from 1615, including the belltower replacing one that had collapsed. Over the centuries the church has been modified and rebuilt in different styles, the latest reconstruction in 1888 included the choir, side aisles and transept.

   free

5. See

   Dommershausen House

   Huis Dommershausen

   Not one but two houses, built in late Gothic style. Houses a household item store.

6. See

   Gallo-Roman Museum

   Provinciaal Gallo-Romeins Museum

   Houses Celtic gold, Roman glassware, Merovingian filigree work, and the dodecahedron (12-facet ball), an unusual Gallo-Roman object found during excavations which nobody knows what it represents or was used for. There's a permanent exhibition and a temporary one which changes annually.

   Tue-Fri 09:00—17:00, weekends 10:00—18:00. Closed on Mon, unless it is a holiday·€7, €1 for people younger than 26

7. See

   Gallo-Roman temple

   A reconstruction of the Atuatuca Tungrorum temple where it originally stood. Given that it's outside the Roman city walls, and the temple stood there before the walls, it's probable that it originated as a pre-Roman place of worship.

   free

8. See

   Herenelderen castle

   Kasteel van 's Herenelderen

   Castle with parts built during different eras. The oldest part is the Gothic marlstone section from the 16th century. It has a "Louis XVI-style" courtyard, and a farmhouse in Baroque style. The castle is private property but can be viewed from the outside from different angles.

9. See

   Moerenpoort

   Visépoort

   The last standing Medieval city gate, built in 1379 partially with material from the Roman walls, restored in 1892, 1952 and 2011. Originally the gate featured a three-storey building. Interestingly the façades of the gate look really different from each other, with a semicircular Romanesque arch towards the city and a pointed Gothic arch towards the countryside.

   In summer Wed-Sat 13:00-17:00, Sun 09:30-12:00 13:00-17:00. In winter only on Sun

10. See

    Old chocolate factory

    Chocoladefabriek

    One of the few Art Nouveau buildings in the province, it was finished in 1909 for the Rosmeulen chocolate factory which functioned here until 1934. Nowadays it houses an art center and apartments. It can be admired from the outside and the highlight is the large horseshoe-formed stained glass window surrounding the main entrance, with the chocolate factory's squirrel logo on top.

11. See

    Perron

    Perroen

    All of the "good cities" of the principality had one of these monuments; a stone pillar with a cross-bearing orb on top standing on a set of stairs. First occupying the place where the Ambiorix statue now stands, it was first moved in 1886 and has been on its current place since 1985.

12. See

    Roman Walls

    The original Roman wall, dating from the 2nd century, still visible on more than 1,500 m. You will also notice some of the medieval defensive towers that are still visible today.

13. See

    Romanesque cloister

    Romeinse kloostergang

    On the east side of the basilica is the Romanesque cloister from the 12th century. This was enlarged in the early 13th century and rebuilt in its present form. The vertically placed tombstones, as well as the corner chapels on the east side, dating from later periods. Between the cloister and the entrance to the church is a Romanesque statue of Christ from the 11th century.

14. See

    Rooi castle

    Kasteel van Rooi

    Originating in the 14th century, this castle has also been modified over the centuries. For example, the whitewashed northwestern façade got its current appearance in 1698, as the inscription reads. A farm was built on the premises in the 17th century, of this only the gate and a barn remains.

15. See

    Rosmeulen castle

    Rosmeulen kastel, Kastel La Brise

    Built in the early 20th century by the chocolate factory owner Florent Rosmeulen, it has Art noveau and rococo elements and two gardens (an English and an Italian one). The castle is private property, but occasionally open to the public during different events, at other times you can look at it from a distance.

16. See

    St. Agnes monastery

    Agnetenklooster

    Constructed in the 15th century by monks of the St. Augustine, rebuilt in Gothic style around 1550 after a fire. The southern and northerns wings have been remodeled over the years. The monastery was one of the few buildings spared by the French troops attacking Tongeren in 1677.

17. See

    St. Catherina's Béguinage

    OLSint-Catharinabegijnhof

    The béguinage is founded in 1257 and is one of the oldest in Flanders. In the second half of the 16th century escalated the rivalry between Catholics and Protestants in which the possessions of the Beguines were looted and destroyed. In the 17th century the béguinage came to an unprecedented boom and the Beguines became wealthy. The wooden houses were replaced by stone ones. Its heyday was at the beginning of the 18th century. The béguinage counted nearly 100 homes and more than 300 Beguines. In the 19th century it was opened up and became a whole with the rest of the town. Since 1998 it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    free

18. See

    St. Catherine church

    Sint-Catharinakerk

    The church in the centre of the Beguinage has elements from many eras, the oldest parts being the Gothic nave and choir from the 13th century.

    gratuit

19. See

    St. Hubert chapel

    Sint-Hubertuskapel

    Baroque chapel finished in 1729, built around a 12th century Romanesque chapel dedicated to St. Martin. The chapel has an old cemetery with the graves mostly from the 17th century.

20. See

    St. Stephens Church

    Sint-Stephanuskerk

    Marlstone pseudobasilica (a church with a ground plan like a basilica but the central nave not raising much above the aisles) from 1450. It features five stained glass windows from about 1540. The last renovation was finished in 2016.

    free

21. See

    Statue of Ambiorix

    Standbeeld van Ambiorix

    Completed in 1866, this statue depicts the fearsome leader of the Eburons, which was a tribe that defeated two of Caesar's legions in 54 BC. He is shown trampling a laurel wreath and Roman banners while wearing Celtic clothes and carrying a battle axe and a sword. Nowadays Ambiorix is one of the most famous characters in Belgian history.

22. See

    Teseum

    Museum presenting objects related to the functions of the church throughout the centuries, from liturgical clothing to silver objects. In the basement there's an archaeological section with the remains of a Roman house, city walls and former churches.

23. See

    Town hall

    Standhuis en belfort

    Originally at Grote Markt, the town hall was burned together with the rest of the city in 1677. It was built between 1737 and 1750 in bricks in classical style, inspired by the city hall of Liège. The front pediment has a coat of arms of Georges-Louis de Berghes, the Prince-Bishop of Liège at the time. The building is not open to visitors.

24. See

    Widoye castle

    Kasteelwidooie

    Castle and farm, built in the 16th century but heavily rebuilt in the 18th century, giving it its current appearance. The moat is still intact, and the castle is often a venue for events.

25. See Not mapped

    Gallo-Roman ramparts

    These ramparts, constructed in the 2nd century, had more of a representative than defensive purpose. They measured 5444 metres in length and had two main gates, one towards Cassel and another towards Colonia Agrippina and two smaller gates. The best preserved parts are in the northwest along the Cesarlaan and in the southwest along Cottalaan and Sabinuslaan. In the latter place you can see a replica of the ramparts - how it looked in Roman times - and replicas of Roman war machines.

26. See Not mapped

    Medieval ramparts

    The defensive walls from the 13th century measure 2600 m in length with six gates and twelve towers. The best preserved parts are in the north along Elfde-Novemberwal and east along Leopoldwal, where you can find the Moerenpoort gate.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tongeren (CC BY-SA 4.0).