SIMPELVELD – Veteran Julius – Living in the Roman valley – 3.8 and 9.6 km

Welcome to the walk through Roman Simpelveld. This municipality is rich in Roman-era discoveries, including four Roman villas, a coin hoard, the Sarcophagus of Simpelveld, and two Roman roads: the Via Belgica and the Via Traiana.

In 2003, an exceptionally rich Roman grave of a man was discovered in Bocholtz. This discovery inspired our Roman character, your guide during the walk. We gave this man the name Julius Genialis and imagined him as a cavalryman in the Roman army. After his military career, Julius settled in Bocholtz. The peace of rural life appealed to him, combined with the proximity of the towns of Coriovallum (Roman Heerlen) and Aqua Granni (Roman Aachen). These are arguments that still hold true today.

Of course, much has changed over the course of 2,000 years. Yet during the walk, you will discover many similarities, such as the rural landscape, arable farming, fruit cultivation, and the many streams. Heerlen and Aachen are still nearby — then and now.

We hope Julius will introduce you to the Roman past of some 2,000 years ago while at the same time allowing you to enjoy the beautiful surroundings!

Practical information:

• Starting point of the walking route? Hoeve Overhuizen, Overhuizerstraat 2, Bocholtz
• Distance? 3.8 and 9.6 km — you can also combine both routes
• Roman guide? Veteran Julius
• Tips for your ideal audio walk:
  • Download the free VIA VIA / Via Belgica app from the App Store or Play Store
  • Select your language in the app and activate notifications
  • Earphones will enhance your listening experience
  • Enable your location and let the GPS system in the app guide you
  • At special locations, you will hear the sound of a Roman cornu and a pop-up with additional information will appear in the app

Credits: The audio walks were developed by public archaeologist Béatrice de Fraiture – BdF Producties.