Starting point: film house Lumière
Between the old inner harbor of the city of Maastricht, known as the Bassin, and the Hoge Fronten, also called casemates, lies a recently newly developed green park zone called the Frontenpark. The name Frontenpark refers to a "wet" defense zone in the northern part of the fortified city of Maastricht called "the low or Bossche fronts" and the contiguous area the "high fronts."
Industrialization
The northern part of the Maastricht fortress suffered greatly from heavy shelling by the French during sieges in 1748 and 1793/1794. In 1816-1820 the fortifications in this area were rearranged. In 1867, the city of Maastricht lost its fortress status. Partly due to the pressure of the then already rapidly advancing industry, the area of the low Fronten was almost immediately thereafter laid out as an industrial area.
Dissolution of the fortress in 1867
Our guides provide information about and insight into the history of this area where wet fortifications, remnants of an industrial past, embedded in a recently redesigned park can still be admired.
Remains and developments of the Fronts
They will take you through stories about the New Biesen, the sieges, the birth of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, construction of a new fortress and new wet moats, new shipping routes through the fortifications, the construction of inland ports and rail connections, major industrialist Petrus Regout and the establishment (and later disappearance) of new industries in this area. The tour ends at the high fronts.
Useful information
Duration
approximately 1.5 hours (90 min).
Cost
€ 9.50 p.p., youth up to 12 years € 6.00 p.p.. Reservations can be made up to four days before the desired date/time. A tour requires at least six people to participate.
Customization is also possible
You then determine the day, time and duration of the tour in consultation: between 90 and 180 minutes, For tours longer than 120 minutes we also go underground (i.e. inside the casemates). A maximum of 10 people can participate; the cost for such a customized tour is € 80.00 (90 min), € 105.00 (120 min) or € 135.00 (150 min). A request must be made at least 1 week in advance.
Custom rates apply for groups of fifteen or more.
Starting Point
Filmhouse Lumière, Bassin 88, Maastricht. Walk above ground via the Bassin and the low fronts to the Cabergerweg and the high fronts behind.
Transportation
Parking
Sphinx parking or Q-park Frontenpark
Public transportation
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 15 (Boschstraat/Maagdendries stop)
Requesting a tour
Please fill out our request form to book your tour.
This is not a final reservation yet, but a request that we will be happy to help you with.
You will receive a confirmation email from us with all the details.