Editing Maaseik (section)

==Places of interest==
In Maaseik many buildings are protected as ''[[Beschermd erfgoed]]'' (National Heritage Sites). Notable are several churches and monasteries, mostly in [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] and [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] style, and a large number of houses in the local [[Mosan style]]. Twelve [[watermills]] around Maaseik have been restored, some of which are still functioning and can be visited.

===Churches, monasteries and listed houses===
The main church of Maaseik is the Neoclassical ''Sint-Catharinakerk'' (Church of Saint Catherine), built in 1840–45. The predecessor of this church was for over 300 years the seat of a powerful religious institution, the [[Chapter (religion)|chapter]] of [[Aldeneik]], which was originally based at nearby [[Aldeneik Abbey]], but in 1571 moved to Maaseik in order to escape the religious troubles of the period. The canons of Aldeneik took their treasures with them, which can now be seen in the [[sacristy]] of Saint Catherine's. In Aldeneik, all that remains of the once mighty abbey is the heavily restored ''Sint-Annakerk'' (Church of Saint Anne).

Several monasteries from the Baroque era have been preserved in Maaseik. The most notable once are the monasteries of the [[Franciscans]], the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchins]] and the [[Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross|Holy Cross Canons]]. The latter church (''Kruisherenkerk'') has a [[Rococo]] interior.

Maaseik, although a small town, boasts of many listed houses, predominantly in [[Mosan Renaissance]] style. Most of the houses are built in [[brick]] in combination with soft, yellowish Limburg [[chalk]] and a much harder, blueish [[limestone]] from the [[Ardennes]] region, locally called ''Naamse steen'' ([[Namur]] stone). Along Markt, Bosstraat, Hepperstraat and Grote Kerkstraat several beautifully adorned Mosan gables can be seen, many with original [[gable stone]]s.
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File:Aldeneik, StAnnakerk06.jpg|Saint Anne's Church, Aldeneik
File:Maaseik - Sint-Catharinakerk.jpg|Saint Catharine's Church
File:Maaseik, Markt04.jpg|Corner building Markt-Bosstraat
File:Maaseik, Bosstraat7, 1686.jpg|Bosstraat nr 7
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===Market square===
The main square and the true centre of Maaseik is the ''Markt'' (Market Square) with the 19th-century statue of the town's famous sons, [[Jan van Eyck|Jan]] and [[Hubert van Eyck]]. On the North side of the square is the 18th-century town hall and a copy of the old [[Perron (columnar monument)|perron]], the symbol of judicial freedom of the [[prince-bishopric of Liège]], placed in front of the town hall. The market place is surrounded by old houses, some of which are medieval in core but with 17th or 18th-century gables. Several buildings have been converted into pubs and restaurants and although the tree-lined square is still partly used as a car park, in Summer a number of street terraces give it a lively atmosphere.
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File:Maaseik001.jpg|Maaseik market square
File:Maaseik, Markt, stadhuis.jpg|Town hall
File:Maaseik, Markt08.jpg|Liège perron
File:Maaseik Maartplaz.jpg|Van Eyck brothers
</gallery>

===Museums===
*The church of Saint Catharine houses an important [[church treasure]], which was originally in Aldeneik, but was moved to Maaseik in 1571 when the canons of Aldeneik fled to the safety of the walled town. The church treasury holds the oldest [[Gospel Book]] of the [[Benelux]], the ''[[Codex Eyckensis]]'', which dates from the early 8th century. The church treasure also includes ancient textiles, some of which are described as garments belonging to the local saints [[Herlindis of Maaseik|Herlindis]] and [[Relindis of Maaseik|Relindis]], and the oldest known embroidered [[Anglo-Saxon England|Anglo-Saxon]] textiles from the 7th, 8th and 9th century. Other treasures in the museum collection are [[reliquary|reliquaries]], some dating back to the 9th and 10th century, [[Liturgy|liturgical]] vessels made of gold and silver, [[parament]]s, and ancient [[manuscript]]s.
*The ''Regionaal Archeologisch Museum'' (RAM) on Markt includes a museum of regional [[archeology]] and [[local history]], and a [[pharmacy]] museum. The latter is considered the oldest pharmacy in Belgium and has retained most of its original display of [[Delftware]] pots and [[tin]] jars. Behind the museum is a small [[herbal garden]].
*In the nearby Franciscan monastery the privately owned John Selbach Museum displays collections of art and antique dolls. The building also houses a permanent exhibition about the Van Eyck brothers and a [[scale model]] of the town as it was in 1672. The building is also used for large-scale exhibitions (in 2008 the [[Terracotta Army]] of [[Xi'an]] and in 2012 treasures from the [[Tang dynasty]]).
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File:Maaseik, schatkamer St-Catharinakerk 02.jpg|''Codex Eyckensis''
File:Maaseik, Markt05.jpg|Archeological museum and old pharmacy
File:Maaseik.archeologisch museum011.jpg|Display at archeological museum
File:John Selbach Museum voorgevel.jpg|John Selbach Museum
</gallery>