Visiting potter Lucius
De Twee Gezusters, Heerlen
The most beautiful inner garden of Heerlen is enclosed by the former monastery Luciushof. At De Twee Gezusters you can enjoy Roman food in the brasserie, discover the monastic life of the sisters, and visit the Roman potter Lucius. In “his house” you can also join in for a Roman-style lunch or coffee with Limburg vlaai.
Until 1970, around 25 nuns lived in the Luciushof as recluses in the middle of the city. They had everything within the monastery walls: their “cells”, a library, an infirmary, and even a host bakery. During a guided tour you discover not only the Catholic past, but also the Roman heritage. The monastery lies along a lively section of the Via Belgica…
Exactly at this spot once lived a Roman potter: Lucius. Thanks to a fortunate mishap we know his name, what he made, and even for whom. His pottery can still be admired today at the Thermenmuseum. Next to his house, Lucius had several kilns, which were rediscovered next to the monastery.
Discover
- Discover the quiet monastic life in the heart of Heerlen
- Enjoy Roman food in the brasserie
Fun to know
- Cooking with herbs
- The inner garden of the Luciushof was once the only place where the sisters were allowed outside. Here they tended a herb garden in which some plants still flourish today. Seasoning dishes with herbs was a Roman practice not yet known here. Strong flavors of herbs were often used to improve food that was already somewhat “past its prime.” The Roman Marcus Gavius Apicius wrote a cookbook in which he adorned almost every dish with lovage, an herb we now know as the “Maggi plant.”