Lux opens the treasure chest of Meerssen’s rich past
Author: Harry Lindelauf
Photography: Harry Lindelauf, Submedia and Ingrid Buchem
Provincial Executive Michael Theuns was full of confidence at the opening: “It promises to be a brilliant evening thanks to the mix of art, history and technology.” And on Friday, 22 December in Meerssen, he was proven right. The same went for alderman Louk Bongarts, who proudly referred to “our rich history with a treasure chest full of stories.” And mayor Mirjam Clermonts-Aretz seemed to enjoy a special connection with Pluvius: the very first edition of the Lux light festival, after a long day of rain, unexpectedly stayed dry.
The Lux light walk projects videos of eight characters from Roman times. The connecting thread is the Via Belgica, as all of these figures lived between Tongeren and Simpelveld along the road that once served as an important east–west route for the Romans.
Meerssen hosted the Lux premiere and immediately made an impression, using the imposing Basilica of the Holy Sacrament as the stage for the first projection: the goddess Minerva. It is a tribute to the goddess of wisdom, whose small stone statue was discovered in nearby Bunde.
At other locations in Meerssen, seven more characters come to life during the light walk. With the help of artificial intelligence, a unique image has been designed for each figure. Computer animation then brings these images vividly to life, projecting them several meters high onto building facades.
Publius speaks dialect
Alongside the goddess Minerva, a colorful ensemble of people share stories of local life in Roman times. Publius Attius Servatus proudly presents his wine trade, which he brings in through the port of Maastricht to supply the wealthy Romans living in their luxurious farmsteads along the Via Belgica. Remarkably, Publius speaks in dialect, while the other characters speak Dutch or Flemish.
Other figures include council member Titus Tertinus from Xanten, who owns a villa in the Ravensbosch; the lovestruck potter Lucius from Heerlen; and the Batavian cavalryman Julius Genialis, a retired legionary who lives near Simpelveld.
In case the stories from the past aren’t quite enough to capture the attention of younger visitors, there’s an extra treat: children can join in with a puzzle walk. In each presentation, a Roman object is hidden. Those who pay close attention can later draw the objects themselves and earn a small reward.
The Lux light walk also visits Heerlen, Maastricht, Voerendaal, Simpelveld, and Valkenburg aan de Geul, where all available spots are already fully booked. This means that the Lux light festival is attracting around 3,000 visitors. www.viabelgica.nl/via/lux/.
