Maashees: Via Valentiniana and Maasheggen

Maashees brings together the Via Valentiniana cycling route, with its Roman connection, the Maasheggen cultural landscape, and the history of the Antoniuskerk. If you are looking for a hotel in Maashees, your choice may depend on whether you mainly want to cycle, explore landscape trails, or learn about architectural and local history.

Cycling the Via Valentiniana

The Via Valentiniana runs from Maashees to Cuijk and follows the course of the former Roman road for most of its length. Where the route diverges from this course, it passes through the Maasheggen landscape. The cycle route thus combines a largely preserved historic alignment with sections through the cultural landscape.

The Via Valentiniana is marked with numbered cycle junction signs, Roman banners, information panels, and Roman helmets embedded in the road surface. The numbered cycle junction signs provide directions; the other markers highlight the route’s Roman connection.

Maasheggen: landscape and status

The Maasheggen covers around 2,000 hectares and has nearly 300 kilometres of hedgerows in total, including 25 kilometres of laid hedges.

The Maasheggen has UNESCO “Man & the Biosphere” status; it is the only area in the Netherlands with this status. It is also considered the oldest cultural landscape in the Netherlands. These designations add two further aspects to the figures: UNESCO status and the historical significance associated with the cultural landscape.

Walking trails, and horse-riding and carriage routes

The Maasheggen has numerous signposted walking trails, ranging from short to somewhat longer routes, as well as trails for experienced hikers and families.

The horse-riding and carriage route network in the Maasheggen offers a different kind of activity. It covers 120 kilometres of paths, with 122 routes and 60 junctions. The walking trails vary in length and intended users, while the horse-riding and carriage route network is defined by its size and layout.

In 2025, new benches, bicycle racks, and picnic sets were installed, including at the beach near Maashees.

Antoniuskerk and local history

The present-day Antoniuskerk dates from 1951 and was built in the post-war reconstruction style, based on a design by architect C.H. de Bever. The municipality of Boxmeer added the church to its list of monuments. Its construction date, architectural style, the architect’s design, and its municipal listing offer different points of entry for learning about the church building.

The site of the Antoniuskerk goes back to a medieval chapel maintained by the Guild of Saint George and Saint Anthony the Abbot; the guild was founded in 1473. This clearly distinguishes the construction history of the present-day church from the older history of the site.

Archaeological finds also offer clues to Maashees’ past: extensive urn fields and numerous Roman objects suggest that Maashees was an important settlement during the Germanic period.

Discover more destinations: Vortum Mullem, Overloon, Sambeek, Oeffelt, Groeningen, Boxmeer, Vierlingsbeek.

Return to the main travel overview: Boxmeer.