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Each room incorporates the local country charms and reflects contemporary comforts, Tongeren - Onze-Lieve-Vrouwbasiliek Cloisters. Tucked in the picturesque Geul valley, highly valued, between the charming cities of Valkenburg and Maastricht, this 2-star hotel is the ideal base for a variety of activities and pure relaxation, Kasteel van Alden-Blezen. The cosy rooms at the hotel are simple but have been decorated with care, Tongeren is proud of its claim to be the oldest town in Belgium. It has its origins in the Roman military camp of Atuatuca which Julius Caesar mentions in the "Gallic War"; the Roman occupation was lifted by Ambiorix, prince of the Eburon in 54 B.C.. Under the Emperor Augustus, Germanic Tongerens settled here and there arose the Roman Civitas Atuatuca Tungrorum which became an important station on the road between Cologne and Bavay; in the second C. A.D. it was provided with a great encircling wall. In the same period it is said that Saint Maturnus conducted a mission here. Tongeren was raised to be a bishopric around 315 but, however, soon this was removed to Maastricht and in the eighth C. to Liège. As a consequence the town became the property of the prince-bishop. Towards the end of the fourth C. the Salian Franks had destroyed Tongeren; the removal of the bishop's see brought a further decline, so that in the Middle Ages the town had a more modest position than in Roman times and this is clearly shown by smaller encircling fortifications. From now on Tongeren shared the fate of the estates of the prince-bishops and in 1677 was once again bombarded by the troops of Louis XIV. Industrialization began about 1830 and, together with its function as a market and administrative center for the surrounding district of rural Hesbaye, helped Tongeren to its present importance. The partly steep inclines in the valley create a challenge for many cyclists, The main attraction of Aachen is the well-preserved Aachen Cathedral, commissioned by Charlemagne in 786 AD. The unique cathedral has a round nave and notable Byzantine influences, and its treasury includes the coronation throne of the Holy Roman Emperors. The cathedral is also home to impressive holy relics collected by Charlemagne — including the cloak of the Virgin Mary and the swaddling-clothes of the Infant Jesus — which still attract pilgrims. Enjoy a tasty meal in the restaurant and, highly valued, weather permitting, bask in the sun with a drink on the terrace, Bree is situated 16km/10miles from Maaseik on the Willems Vaart canal. The little town belonged for a long time to the bishopric of Liège. Of interest are the five-aisled Sint- Michielskerk, the fine tombstones and especially a 15th C. calvary and a 16th C. burial group. Located near the Mergel caves in a beautifully rural environment, and above all, hours of undisturbed hiking and cycling can be enjoyed in the direct surroundings, The city of Aachen, which is pronounced "AH-ken", in western Germany has a population of about 257,000 people. Aachen is known to French speakers as Aix-la-Chapelle and to Italians as Aquisgrana, which is reflecting its original Latin name, . Aachen was the site of an ancient sacred hot spring, but is best known for its later association with Emperor Charlemagne. The high quality of hospitality so typical of Limburg is also present at this intimate hotel and makes for a very pleasant stay, The rural market town of Tongeren, which is French Tongres,, which is also a local administrative center, lies on the little river Jeker and is surrounded by the fertile fields of the Hesbaye, which is Hasbengouw, . The town has considerable economic importance for the extensive region around it because of the ... More., number and variety of jobs available in many small industrial concerns. The sights of cultural and historical interest of the town mirror its long history and are attractions for the tourist., Tongeren - Onze-Lieve-Vrouwbasiliek, The high-quality collections of Aachen's museums paint a comprehensive picture of the development of art from antiquity via medieval sculpture to the present day. Temporary exhibitions and a varied programme of events provide lively access to modern-day culture., The Stadhuis of 1754 also houses a local museum