Sint-Servatiuskerk

The Basilica of Saint Servatius, the Sint-Servaasbasiliek, stands in Maastricht, in the south of Limburg. Limburg has other important churches, notably the Munsterkerk in Roermond, a thirteenth-century church of the former abbey, and the cathedral of Saint Christopher there, but Maastricht, in the south of the province, is the city of Saint Servatius.

Saint Servatius was a bishop in the fourth century, the first known bishop of Maastricht and Tongeren, who is said to have come from Armenia, and he died in the year 384. He was buried beside the Roman road at a spot that later became a place of pilgrimage, and a succession of churches was built over his grave. The present basilica, the fourth on the site, dates mostly from the eleventh and twelfth centuries in the Romanesque style, with later Gothic additions, and it ranks among the most important monuments in the Netherlands. The westwork, with its massive front, and the interior with its thick columns and rounded arches give an impression of great age and weight. In 1985, it received the honorary title of basilica minor from the pope.

The treasury is one of the finest in northern Europe. It contains the reliquary shrine of Saint Servatius, a masterpiece of medieval goldsmith's work, along with other shrines, liturgical objects, textiles and sculpture, much of it centuries old, because the church was a place of pilgrimage for centuries and attracted rich gifts. The crypt contains the tomb of the saint. The cloister and the Imperial Door, a richly carved Romanesque portal, are other features.

Visitors should check opening hours and prices, since the basilica is open daily with slightly different hours on Sundays and in summer, and an entrance fee covers the church and treasury, with reductions for students and free entry for children. Guided tours can be booked, and dogs are not allowed inside. It is a working church, so respect is expected, particularly during services.

The basilica is next to the Vrijthof, the great square of Maastricht, and close to the Basilica of Our Lady, the Bonnefanten Museum and the bridges over the Maas, so it fits into a day in the city. It suits visitors interested in medieval art, church history and architecture. Allow an hour, and more if you take a tour.