Taste a Roman pie
De Bisschopsmolen, Maastricht
Few bakers still work in a truly traditional way with “old-fashioned” grains such as spelt. The Bisschopsmolen is the first 100% spelt bakery in the Netherlands. Here, bread is given plenty of time to rise and bake into a delicious golden loaf.
Spelt is highly nutritious – something the Romans already knew. Where spelt once served as fuel for soldiers at the front, today it nourishes the fighting spirit of modern gladiators: top athletes. For Tom Dumoulin, who wanted to enjoy his favorite cherry tart even while cycling, the Bisschopsmolen created the kersenplats: a roll made with the same nutritious ingredients but in a handier size and shape.
Besides spelt, the Romans also introduced walnuts, apricots, cherries, and chickens to South Limburg. The grain, fruit, nuts, and eggs are all local ingredients that the Bisschopsmolen gratefully uses in the artisanal preparation of Limburg pie. Secretly, that “Limburg” pie is actually quite Roman.
Discover
- Order a slice of cherry pie (or take one home)
- Fill your own musette (cycling lunch bag) with treats
- Watch the old watermill in action
Fun to know
- South Limburg: the granary of the Romans
- The Romans quickly realized how fertile the loess soil of South Limburg was. They gratefully used it to grow vast amounts of spelt. On a smaller scale, other grains such as emmer, wheat, millet, barley, rye, and oats were also cultivated. This grain was transported via the Via Belgica to the Rhine, where thousands of Roman soldiers were stationed to defend the borders of the Empire. For all those hungry mouths, South Limburg was the granary.