Tourist attractions
Saint Pietersberg Caves
Local marlstone mine with over 20,000 passages dug out over centuries, used as shelter during sieges and bombings. Tours essential; check website for details English and Dutch times differ. Boats runs from the city centre with commentary pointing out interesting landmarks along the way.
Kazematten
A network of bunkers on the west side of Maastricht from which soldiers fired at invaders; again, tours are essential.
'Regular' shopping centre, known for its exclusivity.
Museums
Bonnefantenmuseum
The museum is the foremost museum of Old Masters and contemporary art in the province of Limburg. The contemporary art collection contains works by an international group of artists, including Sol LeWitt. In addition to contemporary paintings, the collection also includes projections and gallery-sized installations. The collection of Old Masters emphasises on 16th and 17th century Flemish paintings, including major works by Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens. In addition, the collection comprises magnificent medieval sculptures by Jan van Steffenswert, early Italian paintings and a presentation of Maastricht silver.
Centre Céramique
Natuurhistorisch Museum
The museum outlines the natural history of southern Limburg. Modern displays offer an insight into both the recent and distant past. Among the museum's highlights are the remains of enormous Mosasauriers and Giant Turtles found in marlstone at the St Pietersberg caverns. Fossils of all shapes and sizes show how South Limburg has changed in the course of the last 300 million years.
Spaans Gouvernement
The museum contains period rooms with mainly 17th and 18th century furnishings, including furniture, silver, porcelain and pottery, glassware and paintings. Two of the rooms have been decorated in the mid-18th century Liège-Maastricht Regence Style.
Derlon Museum Cellar
Before the restoration of the Derlon Hotel started, Maastricht's city archeologists undertook an extensive survey of the site. The Roman finds, from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th century, are considered that important that it was decided to conserve them and exhibit these to interested parties. The following can be seen in the cellar of Derlon Hotel: part of a 2nd and 3rd century square, a 3rd century well, part of a pre- Roman cobblestone road and sections of a wall and a gate dating from the 4th century.
civic buildings
City Library (http://www.centreceramique.nl) Plein 1992
University Maastricht Library, Grote Looierstraat 17 centre & Universiteitssingel 50 Randwyck
The Stadhuis Town Hall in the Markt City Centre
city centre
Perhaps one of the best free sights of Maastricht is simply to admire the two town squares in the centre of the city; The Vrijthof, which features the massive St Servaas Church and St Jan's Cathedral; and The Markt, which features the Town Hall Stadhuis and on Wednesdays and Fridays, markets.
The Vrijthof regularly hosts large festivals at various times throughout the year, including autumn and winter festivals. The Carnival before Lent is an amazing occasion where it seems the whole city dresses up in costume and parties until the early hours. It really has to be seen to be believed, this is a North European Mardi Gras, hence colder and darker than its American cousin.