Vrijthof
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| This article, Vrijthof, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
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| Location | Maastricht, Netherlands |
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| Coordinates | 50°50′57″N 5°41′18″E / 50.849172°N 5.688419°E |
The Vrijthof (Dutch: het Vrijthof) is a square in the Dutch city of Maastricht. It is the largest square in the the Limburg capital. The square long been a focus of attention, in the middle ages pilgrims came to see the grave of Saint Servatius[1]. Whom the adjacent Basilica is named after. The square is often used for concerts by André Rieu.
History
Archaeological excavations have shown that the Vrijthof has been an important cemetary since the late Roman times, and especially in the early Middle Ages . Prior to the construction of an underground car park, hundreds of Merovingian tombs were found between 1969 and 1970, with a lot of artifacts, the results of which were only partially published. The 2003 construction of a new access to the Vrijthof garage on the north side of the square revealed the remains of thirteen layers of the Roman lane, the Via Belgica, an important route through the low countries between the English Channel and the Rhine.
The oldest written mention of the Vrijthof dates from 1223, when Emperor Frederik II gave the area to the chapter of Saint Servaas, a group of religious clergy.
During the Middle Ages the square was walled, with iron entrance gates near the four corners. Later, stone wings with a picture of the key of Saint Servaas replaced the fences. During the seven-year sanctuary voyages , the square had an important role in relocation. The people gathered near the eastern choir of Saint-Serva church and were able to take a look at the relics of Saint Servaas and other saints, who were shown from the church 's dwarf gallery . For the eastern choir of Saint-Serva church, the King's Chapel and the "ellendigenkerkhof" existed until the French era . Close by was Sint-Servaasfontein, with medicinal water that came from the Sint-Servaas source in the Jekerdal , from which it was transported to the Vrijthof via a water supply system for the benefit of the thirsty pilgrims.
The Vrijthof was sometimes a place of execution; after the building of the town hall became the market that. In 1408, after the victory of Bishop Jan van Beieren on the rebellious shutters, the mayor of Liège was beheaded and celebrated in the square . In 1485 Willem van der Marck , the "Swine of the Ardennes" was hijacked on a scaffold at the Vrijthof. In 1535, 15 heretic anabaptists arrived on the pond.
From the moment that Maastricht became the city of fortification (in 1566), the square was used as a venue for the garrison and for military parades . To that end, the chief guard was built in 1736 . From the end of the 17th century the wall around the Vrijthof was replaced by a fence. In French time, the Vrijthof was renamed Place d'Armes . Around the same time, the Sint-Servaas guesthouse, St. Jacob's Chapel, the Maternus Chapel, the King's Chapel and the Wittevrouwen convent were demolished. In June 1942 a National Socialist demonstration took place in the square
Architecture and sights
Monumental buildings
Art in public space
The original Liège perron was demolished by the French in 1795. The current perron is the work of Jean Sondeyker and Jean Huysmans and was revealed on July 7, 1955. On the square is a memorial plaque at the Old Hickory Division of the American Liberation Army, a design by Frans Gast . Other works of art at the Vrijthof are the fountain Hawt uuch fast , also from Frans Gast, and the carnival monument ' t Zaat herremenieke van Han van Wetering.
Particularly the antique lanterns around the choir sections of St. Serva and Sint Janskerk are also. The music box dates from after the construction of the underground car park. On the northeast corner of the square is an old bell, a famous meeting place (including for blind dates).
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Perry and music counter -
Fountain Hawt uuch vas -
It's Herremenieke -
Plaque Old Hickory
Culture and hospitality
Catering
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On the west side of the square is the Great Societal of 1760, an originally military society . On the east side, the Momus from 1883, originally a non-military club, is now a regular catering facility.
On the north side of the square are the hotels Du Casque and Dominicain. The first has its origins in an old inn, 'In den Helm'. On this side of the Vrijthof were in the early centuries many inns with names like 'In den Winkel', 'De Gulden Copp', 'De Vos', 'In den Liebaert', 'The Golden Lion', 'In the Croone' and 'The ring'.
Nowadays, most of the catering areas are located on the east side of the square. A famous example of a brown cafe at the Vrijthof is 'In den Ouden Vogelstruys' on the corner of the Platielstraat , reportedly the oldest café in the city (1730). Almost all the cafés and restaurants have spacious terraces, with which the square is part of its reputation.
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Large Societies -
Societé Momus -
Hotel Du Casque -
In the Old Vogelstruys
References
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