Gemeentegrot, Limestone quarry in Valkenburg aan de Geul, Netherlands.
Gemeentegrot is a limestone quarry in Valkenburg aan de Geul that extends underground through a network of passages and chambers. This labyrinth was carved into marl and comprises multiple levels with numerous corridors.
Quarrying at this site began in Roman times, when workers extracted limestone blocks for building purposes. This work continued for centuries and gradually shaped the underground structure visible today.
The cave walls display inscriptions, drawings, and sculptures left by miners and artists across many centuries. These markings tell stories of the people who worked here and the traditions they maintained.
The site is accessible through guided tours, and the temperature remains constant at 12 degrees Celsius year-round. Visitors should dress warmly, as it stays cool underground regardless of the season.
During winter months, this underground space transforms into a Christmas market with illuminated corridors and vendor stalls. This seasonal event blends festive celebration with the historic setting of the former quarry.
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