the Gentombe

Whoever follows the centuries-old Roman road will inevitably pass through Riemst. In the Haspengouw region, many Gallo-Roman tumuli have been preserved since Roman times. One of them is the Gentombe.

The Gentombe can be found near the village of Herderen. This Roman burial mound lies close to the Via Belgica. You can recognize the Gentombe by the tall, green hill in the landscape. Several trees grow on top of the mound.

In Roman times, tumuli served as burial chambers. Together with the relatives, a final ‘funerary meal’ was held around the deceased. The pots and pans used for this meal were placed inside the grave. Tumuli were often erected at the edge of a villa estate and along Roman roads.

Although the remains of the Roman villa estate here have never been excavated, it is expected that this burial mound was also built at the edge of such a villa. Let your imagination run free and picture how, centuries ago, right on this very spot, beneath the ground, an entire funerary ritual once took place.