Margraten

( Listen? / I ) Margraten is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Limburg. On 1 January 2011 the municipality of Margraten and Eijsden Eijsden - Margraten were merged.

Districts

  • Banholt
  • Bemelen
  • Cadier en Keer
  • Eckelrade
  • Margraten ( the municipal offices )
  • Mheer
  • Noorbeek
  • Scheulder
  • Sint Geertruid

In addition, there are 13 smaller unofficial districts.

Location and economic

Margraten is located in the extreme south of Limburg. It is bordered to the west by the city of Maastricht, in the north of Valkenburg aan de Geul, to the east by Mechelen -Wittem, to the south Voeren in Belgium and in the south- west by Eijsden.

The roads Maastricht Valkenburg and Maastricht - Vaals -Aachen ( N278 ) pass through this community.

Agriculture, fruit growing, fruit tree farming and tourism are the main economic activity in the community.

History

As early as 3150 BC flint was recovered here in a pit. The region on the highway Maastricht -Aachen was inhabited in Roman times by farmers. Most of the villages that exist here today, originated in the Middle Ages. A part of this area was acquired in 1075 by a Cologne monastery. The document referred to was this monastery Sancta Maria ad Gradus. Hence the name comes Margraten. The municipality since 1839 belongs only to the Netherlands. During World War II Margraten was one of the first municipalities in the Netherlands, who were liberated by the Allies: On 13 September 1944, conquered the American 1st Army. On 10 November 1944, a part of the community was recognized as the only memorial cemetery of the United States Armed Forces in the Netherlands. At present, the remains of about 8,800 fallen soldiers lie on the 26 acre facility. In 2005, the then President of the United States, George W. Bush, visited the memorial cemetery.

Attractions

  • U.S. Cemetery: see also the website of the Community
  • In Cadier en Keer is located in a former monastery, an ethnographic museum on West Africa. It is Afrikacentrum and shows many family portraits and other works of art of the western half of sub-Saharan Africa.
  • The very picturesque tourist village located Noorbeek.
  • The fruit tree blossom in April.
  • The little forest " Savelsbos " with a special plant world and the remnants of prehistoric flint mine.
  • The hilly, varied scenery attracts many tourists, including many cycling enthusiasts. The annual cycling pro road race Amstel Gold Race through the community.
  • Many villages have restored old churches, chapels and wayside crosses.
Limburg (Netherlands) Eijsden-Margraten Telephone numbers in the Netherlands Cycle sport
547906
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