About Meerssen

Meerssen

In the early Middle Ages, Meerssen was home to a Palts (royal palace), a fortified court that was used as a residence for Frankish monarchs such as Charlemagne/Carolus Magnus. After all, the palace was close to the important trading and pilgrimage city Maastricht and not far from the center of the Frankish empire, Aachen/Cologne.

In 1222 happened according to the tradition a “blood miracle” in the church of Meerssen, which resulted in a run of pilgrims. Due to the many pilgrims the Benedictines were forced to build a larger church, the “Basiliek van het Heilig Sacrament” or “Sint-Bartholomeusbasiliek“. Meerssen has remained a place of pilgrimage till this day.