Eupen |
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a Belgian city in the province of Liege on the Wezdra river, in the Meuse basin, which is the capital of the German-speaking community, and the administrative center of the Meuse-Ren Euroregion. This border town is located about 16 km south of German Aachen (Aachen) and 35 km of Liege and Dutch Maastricht. It is one of the major tourist attractions of the Belgian Eastern Border Area. City owes its cultural and architectural diversity.
About 90% of 20.000 in Eupen are citizens of German descent. |
The first mention of Eupen as part of the principality of Limburg appeared in 1213 a year. The city flourished the most in the 17th century due to the rapid development of the textile industry. After the end of World War I, under the Versailles Treaty, Eupen, along with neighboring Mamledy, was incorporated into Belgium. Today, it is divided into two zones: the upper city, in the gouge of a large green valley, which is a shopping center, and the lower city on the banks of the Vesdre, with the old town and the Hertogenwald forest.
Church of St. Nicholas
The church standing on Marktplatz was built, in the years 1720-1726, on the basis of a design of a German architect from nearby Aachen Laurenz Mefferdatis. The southern tower of the temple was built of irregular stones, probably from the chapel existing in this place in the 13th century. In the fourteenth or fifteenth century, it was replaced by a Gothic church, which incorporated the existing southern tower. In 1729 the temple was consecrated. In 1898, the facade and both towers were redesigned as planned by architect Lambert von Fisenne.
Inside the church, special attention deserves: the main altar, designed by Johann Joseph Couven, fancy pulpit, confessionals, and benches, on which engraved names of rich fabric manufacturers have survived, including Grand Ry, one of the richest families with textile stores.
Address:
Marktplatz 26 4700 Eupen |
Opening hours:
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Ticket price:
wstęp wolny |
Atelier Kunst und Bühne
In the pre-industrial period, in the factory was given cloth, which was the source of Eupen's wealth and fame, softness and gloss. This complex was built in 1713 by producer Peter Sterman. In the years 2002/2003 the buildings were restored. Walking through the streets of the city is worth visiting this charming corner.
Adres:
Kichstraße 17-23 4700 Eupen |
Opening hours:
Całą dobę |
Haus Grand Ry to budynek noszący również nazwę Stara Poczta. Wybudowano go w latach 1761-1763 jako siedzibę producenta tkanin Nikolausa Josepha Grand Ry.
Projekt stworzył prawdopodobnie architekt z Aachen J.J. Couven. W budynku tym w latach 1893-1979 mieściła się Poczta. Od 1984 roku jest to siedziba rządu społeczności niemieckojęzycznej. Address:
Klötzerbahn 32 B 4700 Eupen |
W Eupen warto również wybrać się na spacer uliczkami starego miasta. Uwagę zwraca zabudowa, bardziej charakterystyczna dla Niemiec niż Belgii. W mieście znajduje się dużo restauracji i klimatycznych knajpek, w których można skosztować kuchni charakterystycznej dla tego regionu i odpocząć przy szklaneczce regionalnego piwa.
A few kilometers east of the city lies its main attraction, which is the largest dam in Belgium, from which there is a beautiful view of the artificial lake and the areas behind it. The dam was built in the years 1935-1951 in an extremely picturesque area full of forests.
Address:
Spabrunnen
4700 EUPEN
4700 EUPEN
Hautes Fagnes National Park (High Marshes)
Lying around 16 km from Eupen, the landscape park is a paradise for nature lovers. Many kilometers of routes have been prepared for tourists here. Even wooden platforms were built to allow walking through the swampy part of the park. It is part of the great German-Belgian National Park Hautes Fagnes-Eifel.