The Faliezusters convent in historic Maastricht with the Pater Vinck tower

by Roger VDB

I took this photo on a beautiful late summer day of the Faliezustersklooster in Maastricht.

The Faliezustersklooster is part of one of Maastricht's most famous cityscapes. Together with the Oude Minderbroederskerk, the Pater Vincktoren and parts of the first and second medieval city walls, it forms a picturesque whole, surrounded by the Stadspark Maastricht with the small river Jeker meandering between the buildings.

The facade of the Faliezustersklooster is built of brick on a plinth of hard stone. Typical of the Maasland Renaissance style is the cornice with consoles. The window and door frames and the center pillars of the windows are made of hard stone on the first floor and marl on the first floor. The diagonally divided window shutters are painted red and white and add charm to the building. The east facade is a stepped gable and the west facade consists of timber framing.

From the 13th century, beguines lived in this area, between the Jeker River and the city wall. It is not known whether the falie nuns originated from these beguines. Around 1470, the Bishop of Liege and the city council authorized the establishment in this area of nuns engaged in nursing.