Quick results thanks to cooperation\r\nThe new piece of Via Belgica does not connect literally but certainly figuratively: the idea brought together in record time a range of people and parties, from alderman Meijers of Valkenburg, former provincial deputy Burlet of the Province of Limburg, contractor Laudy and Moonen-Wanders to curator Karen Jeneson of the Thermenmuseum as expert. The \u201cman with the oil can\u201d behind it all is Camille Oostwegel Sr. His motives: \u201cIt was our ambition to realise this replica because of its tourist value and because of its archaeological importance.\u201d His interest in the past is not a fleeting one: as a 15-year-old, Camille Oostwegel already had his own museum with fossil and archaeological finds and self-stuffed animals.<\/p>","foto":9469},{"acf_fc_layout":"foto_tekst","foto":9481,"tekst":"
New milestone\r\nAlso special is the contribution of Brother Leo of the Abbey of Sint Benedictusberg in Mamelis. He chiselled the inscriptions into a replica of a Roman milestone. Christian Kicken supplied and translated the texts from Latin for an information board. The harmonious cooperation of all parties involved also produced rapid results: the money was secured through subsidies and sponsorship, the municipal permit was granted, and in the summer of 2021 the Via Belgica replica became a reality. Employees of Laudy together with volunteers of the local history association prepared the necessary terrain at the kitchen garden of Ch\u00e2teau Sint Gerlach with a suitable sublayer. On top of that a road surface of boulder clay and gravel was applied, just like the Romans, who worked with local materials. The lens-shaped road (because of the drainage) does not at all resemble the famous pictures of the Via Appia in Rome, which after 2000 years is still neatly paved with large stone blocks.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst_witruimte","tekst":"
Ground radar\r\nThe construction of the road is not a matter of discussion. Less factual is the exact route of the original Via Belgica through the Geul valley towards Klimmen. Karen Jeneson researched this. She looked for clues, of course, such as the earlier traces discovered at the Putweg in Houthem. But even the use of ground radar and analyses based on modern detailed relief maps did not produce a definitive route. \u201cThe northern slope of the Geul valley has always been very intensively used for agriculture. In Roman times, two metres of soil were deposited from the slope into the valley; in the Middle Ages another four metres. That makes it very difficult to find traces of the road,\u201d explains Karen Jeneson.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"tekst_quote","tekst":"
Ravensbos\r\nMuch easier to find are the remains of Roman habitation in the Geul valley. No fewer than twelve villae rusticae have been discovered, many graves near Strabeek and the foundation of a tower on the Goudsberg. Karen Jeneson suspects that the Roman remains at the foot of the Ravensbos do not belong to a villa rustica (a farm, in other words): \u201cTo begin with, the location of the buildings is very atypical for a villa rustica. The buildings also have unusual shapes and there is a foundation measuring ten by ten metres. Perhaps this was a relay station for horses and draught animals with an inn. I would really like to investigate that sometime.\u201d<\/p>","quote":"Perhaps this was a relay station for horses and draught animals with an inn. I would really like to investigate that sometime.","naam":"Karen Jeneson | Curator, Thermenmuseum"}]},"yoast_head":"\n