Editing Maaseik (section)

===Middle Ages===
The town of Maaseik was probably founded around 1000, perhaps by the canons of nearby Aldeneik. It lay near the old [[Roman road]] that connected [[Maastricht]] and [[Nijmegen]] and was relatively safely situated in the valley of the Meuse. The settlement was originally part of the [[County of Loon]]. The village grew and became an important trading place in the Meuse region. Maaseik received its [[city charter]] in 1244. In the 14th century Loon was incorporated into the [[Bishopric of Liège]] and Maaseik became one of the 23 Liège ''[[Good Cities (Prince-Bishopric of Liège)|Bonnes Villes]]''.

As a typically planned town, the four main streets start at the marketplace and led to the four [[city gates]], none of which has been preserved. The rectangular shape of the city walls is also typical. Against the western wall, a castle was built. The walls were dismantled however in 1467, when during the [[Liège Wars]] the [[Duke of Burgundy]], [[Charles the Bold]], attacked the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]] and destroyed many towns in the region.