Alden Biesen

Wine Castle Genoelselderen

The "Ambiorixtown" generates from a Roman military logistic. Gradualy a symbiosis with local inhabitants took place and Tongeren developed into one of the largest towns in the north of Gaule. The first Roman Wall of the second century, symbolising the former greatness and power enjoys European fame, is a silent witness of Roman occupation.

Tongeren is the principal town of a judicial district in the province of Limburg; it is also the seat of the country Court of this province.

The Gallo Roman Museum is located in the heart of Tongeren where a large luxury Roman villa was built. The underground of Tongeren is one large archaeological archive. The archaeological site for instance, shows the remains of an excavated Roman tower of the 4th century, which is situated near the Basilica. One of the most remarkable monuments of Tongeren is our Lady's Basilica with the 64 metres high bell tower. This marvellous church is built in Gotic style, is hosts an enormous collection of precious art objects and every seven years is carried around the procession of the coronation festivities.

The statue of Ambiorix adorns the market place, he was the famous leader of the local tribe of the Eburones and symbolises the resistance against the Roman conqueror.

In the southern part of the town, near the Jeker, there is the medieval Beguinage. A hundred small dwellings of the beguines, from the 17th and 18th century, were built around one of the oldest churches in Tongeren.

A SHORT HISTORY

In Roman days Atuatuca Tungrorum (the ancient name of Tongeren) was the administrative capital of the district (civitas) of the Tungri. These Tungri were at the time between 27BC and 14AD a governmental federation of a few autonomous tribes that decades before had resisted the invading Roman troops of Julius Caesar. Under the command of their leader Ambiorix, the Eburones, a local tribe, conquered part of the Roman legions in 54 BC. This battle found place near Atuatuca, a yet unknown area in the territory of the Eburones, where the Romans had their winter quarters. Once the Roman authorities were finally established, Atua(tu)ca became the capital of the civitas Tungrorum.

During the following centuries the modest settlement, on the crossing of important Roman roads, developed as a true Roman town (municipium) with its typical public and private buildings, streets and a monumental town wall. The expanding Roman cultural influence improved the evolution of the surrounding country-side, where wealthy farmers built many villas and tumuli. As a result of continuous raids by German tribes into northern Gaul, the town was provided with a new but shorter wall with numerous towers. In the late Roman period the Tongeren civitas, like its sister towns Cologne and Trier, became the centre of a christian diocese, where the first religious preachers, St.-Martin and St.-Servatius probably had their bishop’s seat for some time.

Archaeological excavations in the old town centre and burial sites revealed many remains that together with characteristic finds from the country-side, give a vivid picture of the Roman past of the town and its region. The role of Tongeren in the early medieval period is, in spite of a few rare discoveries, not very clear. Only since the construction of a new church and the foundation of an order of canons the town stood in the light of history again. All of this occurred in continuation of the early christian tradition, i.e. in the area of Our Lady’s church, where the chapel of St.-Martin – memorial church – and the old bishops residence stood before. The centre of this monastery, previously surrounded by a simple fence, formed the basis for the later development of the town after the demolition of the Romanesque minster and the renewal of the surviving cloister. The survival began with the construction of Our Ladies basilica in Gothic style during the first half of the 13^th century. From this time on the evoluating town, protected by the 13^th century town wall, attracted merchants, traders and craftsmen. The town expanded with different monasteries, a few parish churches and a beguinage. Tongeren, one of the good towns near Liège, was almost entirely burned down by the troops of Louis XIV in 1677. The town barely recovered from this catastrophe and only from 1830 onwards one can speak of a consistent revival. More than 2000 years of history have left and extraordinary rich cultural and historical heritage.

A visit to Tongeren, never ends in the centre.

A trip in the surroundings is an absolute must since Tongeren offers his guests not only art and culture, but also recreation for young and old.

Tongeren is a town to love!