Let your guide walk you through the long tunnels of Fort St. Pieter and listen as they explain the building’s long and fascinating history. Learn the secrets of the well and find out what connection the building has with the Three Musketeers d’Artagnan. Stop by the impressive cannons and look for scars of past conflicts on the walls and in the moat. Climb to the top of the fort for one of the finest views of Maastricht.
Fort St. Pieter dates back to 1702, when it was commissioned by the military commander Daniel Wolff Baron Dopff. Located high above the River Meuse, it is one the most impressive and important fortresses in this southern Dutch city. A restoration in 2007 was aimed at giving the fort a more authentic look.
You have to take a guided tour if you want to explore inside the fort. English-spoken tours are run daily and you can book the tour at the Maastricht visitor centre. Learn about the secret network of tunnels that connects the fort to the caves at St. Pietersberg (Mount Saint Peter). A well in the fort provided the troops with water.
Listen to the fascinating anecdotes which tell of the battles that occurred here. You can see evidence of these in several locations around the fort. See the fort’s main defenses when you visit the canons, guns and mortar gallery. Follow your guide to the top of the fort for superb views across Maastricht and beyond. While you stand on the solid stone walls, imagine what it would have been like to be a soldier defending the city from invaders. During the siege of 1673, the French conqueror Louis XIV bombarded the city and fort with cannon balls from St. Pietersberg.
Fort St. Pieter is located on the south side of Maastricht, just a short drive from the city centre. The tours last approximately 1 hour and there is a small fee. Note that the fort is not accessible for wheelchairs.
