VOERENDAAL – Lady Voerendaal – In the most beautiful nature – 8.8 km

Welcome to the Roman walk through Voerendaal. The Lady of Voerendaal will accompany you.

In the 1980s, the Villa Voerendaal was excavated. It turned out to be the largest Roman agricultural estate in the region, complete with an impressive manor house. This excavation taught us a great deal about life in Roman times, around 2,000 years ago. Near the villa, a sandstone portrait of a lady was discovered. She soon became known as the Lady of Voerendaal. She will guide you along her favourite places and share the latest gossip about her friends along the Via Belgica.

The stories of the Lady of Voerendaal are based on archaeological discoveries and excavations. These stories are not “true” events, but they offer you a glimpse into Roman life in this region 2,000 years ago — a region that was pleasant to live in then and still is today, with its castles, monumental farmhouses, fertile fields, and proximity to a major thoroughfare.

Practical information:

• Starting point of the walking route? Voerendaal railway station
• Distance? 8.8 km
• Roman guide? Lady Voerendaal
• Walking junctions?
  NS Station-68-46-72-37-80-35-42-87-26-82-54-20-86-92-12-68-NS Station
• Tips for your ideal audio walk:
  • Download the free VIA VIA/Via Belgica app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
  • Make sure you accept or enable app notifications.
  • In the app, go to Settings, select your preferred language and enable notifications.
  • Earphones or headphones will enhance your listening experience.
  • Make sure your phone is fully charged (tip: a power bank is always useful, especially if your battery is getting older).
  • Enable your location services and let the app’s GPS 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.